Today, a quick glance at the standings is enough to convince anyone that Ducati is back in the title race. Yet, just a few weeks ago in Borgo Panigale, the atmosphere was completely different. Davide Tardozzi recently used a very strong word to describe Ducati's start to the season: "A nightmare."
The term is not an exaggeration. After the Sepang tests, Ducati had every reason to be confident. Five Desmosedici horses were among the top six. Marc Marquez was back. Francesco Bagnaia seemed ready to launch another attack. The satellite teams were brimming with talent.
On paper, the season looked like a guaranteed demonstration of strength. The reality was quite different. While Ducati was still finding his bearings Aprilia hit hard. Marco Bezzecchi won the first three Grand Prix of the year. George Martin added a Sprint victory. The Noale-based manufacturer seemed to have found something that Ducati did not have.
« They made a big step forward between Sepang and Thailand "I now acknowledge this." TardozziAnd at the same time, Ducati was losing its main asset. Because behind the disappointing results at the start of the season lay an even more worrying reality: Marc Marquez was not actually operational.
A compression of the radial nerve in his right arm, diagnosed late, was hindering his recovery after Mandalika's injuries. In other words, Ducati had to face theAprilia the best performing in its recent history with a Marc Marquez decreases.
Tardozzi: " It will take Marc Marquez another month, maybe two, to get back in shape. »
The result was brutal. We had to wait until Jerez to see... Ducati to return to victory thanks to Alex MarquezThen Catalonia to see Francis Bagnaia to finally offer the official team their first Sunday podium finish.
And meanwhile, Marc continued to fight against his own body. That's what makes the weekend of Balaton Even more impressive. Pole position. Sprint victory. Grand Prix victory.
Total domination. But Tardozzi refuses on crash.net to see in it the return of the true Marquez that holds the top spot. " Pole position, victory, victory do not mean that he is at 100%. It's not at 100%. "This sentence deserves closer attention. Because it completely changes the perspective."
Si Ducati managed to make up 30 points Aprilia with a Marc Marquez Still physically diminished, what will happen when the Spaniard truly regains his full abilities? "It will take him another month, maybe two" ", valued Tardozzi.
This is precisely what now worries the opponents of DucatiBecause Balaton showed two things. The first is that Aprilia remains extremely strong. Bezzecchi, Martin et By Giannantonio would probably have been in contention for the podium if it hadn't been for the first corner accident.
The second is that Marc Marquez is already capable of winning even though his team still considers him not fully recovered. That's the paradox. For several months, Ducati experienced what his sporting director describes as a nightmare.
Today, this same coat of arms Ducati approaches the rest of the season with a driver who has returned to 72 championship points and a growing conviction: the best Marquez It may not have happened yet. And if it really has, then the nightmare could soon change sides.
