For some time now, engineers and other executives from the Ducati clan have been poached by the Yamaha and KTM factories in need of recipes and solutions to ensure the path to success in MotoGP. This type of brain drain always leaves the unpleasant impression of a theoretical weakening which is also commented on by observers attached to the brand as well as by members of its clan. This is the case of the boss of the Pramac team Paolo Campinoti who still wants to be reassuring about the phenomenon while specifying that if one day only one remains alongside Gigi Dall'Igna, he will be that one …
The exodus of prominent names in the red house towards the orange tunics hit the headlines in 2023, but this year it is other key people in the project Ducati en MotoGP who went to try the adventure under other skies, and in this case at Yamaha .
Two engineers, Massimo Bartolini et Marco Nicotra have taken strategic positions within the manufacturer in tune to restore the image of the M1, which is coming out of a terrible season and which is far behind the Desmosedici. A trend which thus caused a reaction Paolo Campinoti on the airwaves of Gazzetta: “ it is certainly not trivial to lose important pieces every year » he begins before specifying: “ but Ducati is the strongest team from a technical point of view. And it's therefore normal that they come to fish at their place ».
Paolo Campinoti: “ Paolo Ciabatti will be missed »
He adds : " Massimo, in addition to being very nice, is a very good guy and I don't think a company like Yamaha can afford to continue like this, so I understand their decision ". Another high-profile departure from the MotoGP team Ducati is Paolo ciabatti. Ciabatti was sporting director last year, but left the MotoGP program completely to oversee the brand's new all-terrain project.
An internal change which seems to sadden the boss of Pramac more than the aforementioned defections: “ I'm really sorry for Paolo, with whom I am very close on a professional but also personal level. It's not really going away, given that it's moving into off-road handling, but it will be missed » he assures. But here too, he reassures: “ Gigi Dall'Igna is very good at managing ».
It remains that the current contract between Ducati et Pramac ends at the end of this year. Will the Borgo Panigale brand's long-standing satellite team also be tempted to join the competition? let's remember that Yamaha et KTM both speak out on adding satellite teams to their brands next year… “ This is true, but we have the possibility of renewing ", said Campinoti which leaves no doubt about its intention: “ leaving Ducati is not a realistic scenario for us ».
