It's only February, the season has not yet started in MotoGP, and yet, on the transfer market front, Ducati gives the unpleasant impression of already finding itself with its mouth in the water. A situation blamed on a culprit lacks responsiveness. An assessment that is refuted by sporting director Paolo Ciabatti who has his opinion on the contract offered by Honda to Marc Marquez while highlighting the quality of its contingent of drivers...
Ducati missed Casa Particular in Viñales et Quarterly locked by Yamaha and that's it Marc Márquez is now loyal to Honda for four years. Paolo Ciabatti does not share this approach to things and ensures that Borgo Panigale's policy regarding pilots calmly follows its course: “ we are not obliged to do anything. We decided to take the necessary time. We have a top driver who has been beating everyone for three years, apart from Márquez. His name is Dovizioso. We also have Miller and Bagnaia in whom we trust. »
« It was clear from the start that Márquez would stay with Honda. Quartararo felt very comfortable on his bike. Maverick Viñales could have been in a different situation. But in my opinion, Yamaha made a good and courageous decision by sealing Fabio and Maverick in the factory team for two years without waiting for Valentino's decision », Explains the Ducati sporting director.
He adds : " I imagine Marquez was showered with gold by a company that will develop the bike for him without thinking about the other riders. So, in my opinion, Honda has made use of its enormous power both from an economic and technical point of view " Explain Ciabatta. " I think Viñales saw for the first time the possibility of not being subordinate to Valentino Rossi's choices and that was a great motivation for him. As for Quartararo, after a great debut, he wanted to guarantee himself an official bike and he has plenty of time ahead of him to think about changing in the future. »
So much for the state of affairs. It now remains to recall the internal situation... That the same Ciabatta still thought about changing before the intended targets faded… “ We are satisfied with our drivers. But of course there are other drivers that catch our attention. If you take your job seriously as a manager, you need to look into the situation of these drivers and see if they might be available. And if they are interested in Ducati. Then you can start a conversation with their managers. We did it » explains the Italian.
The fact remains that all these events have Andrea Dovizioso at the heart of the matter Ducati... " Dovizioso has won twice as many races as Viñales in the last three years ", Explain Paolo Ciabatti. " And who has finished second in the championship three times in a row? Of course, Dovi is getting older. He will be 34 in March. But he is still very, very fast and very determined. He is very talented. Sometimes he can be too rational in certain situations. But in Austria 2019, we saw that he had completely thrown rationality overboard. Dovi knows his weaknesses very well, which he must eradicate. He worked hard again last winter, also regarding his psychological preparation. »
Ciabatta finished : " I think Márquez is a cut above all the opponents here. But I don't see any other driver better than Dovizioso. » This is what is said. And that we will have to negotiate, with DesmoDovi now in a position of strength…
