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On Sunday evening at Sepang, after the celebratory toast and photo, Gigi Dall’Igna is smiling in the Ducati garage. Leaning against Dovi's Desmosedici, he has a cigar in his right hand, his prize after the win. The General Manager gathers his thoughts and relives the race that brought the second win of the season, this time with Dovizioso.
“It was tough to get the job done - he comments, satisfied - I had a feeling that Andrea was managing the race and I was right because when it was time to make a break, he did so. But conditions were difficult, in the final laps I was counting off the kilometres, one by one”.
The aim at the start of the year was to obtain a race win, you've now achieved two...
“My real aim, the one I set myself, was to be competitive at all tracks and so I'm pleased. We've got better at some than at other, but we've not often struggled and if we have this has often come down to strange conditions or tyres that didn't perfectly suit the conditions. It's been a great championship, though we should have brought home more points”.
Dovizioso is, as ever, very analytical and, having won, he said that the Ducati is still missing something. Do you agree?
“A bike that hasn't won the title is always missing something. We have to continue to work until we achieve that goal. Next season, we'll lose something in terms of aerodynamics, with the elimination of the winglets, but this doesn't worry me, and the other will also lose something. Yamaha definitely, and Honda too has used rather large winglets in the last races. This loss will probably hit us a little harder, but we already have some new ideas, not only relating to the aerodynamics. For example, although we have the best engine we'll work on that too. It will be difficult to make real improvement in that area though, and easier to take steps forward in what we consider to be our weak areas”.
After a year of experience, Michelin should also be able to stabilise the situation…
“I'm sure that next year will be simpler for Michelin. Producing tyres for these bikes is extremely difficult and presents many risks”.
In two weeks' time Lorenzo will ride the Ducati for the first time, what do you expect from the test?
“I don't know. These will be two very important days, just like when we took the GP15 on track for the first time. When Jorge comes in after making his first laps and talks to me for the first time, it will be just like that day, though he'll probably tell me that the bike has its strong and weak points, with respect to what he was riding before. We'll definitely prioritise what needs to be improved”.
Will he start with the GP16 and then ride the new prototype?
“No, ideally he'll start right away with the GP17. I want him to get straight out on the new bike, but the final decision will be made in the coming days”.
Considering the investment made in the both the bike and rider, is winning the title a categorical imperative?
“It can't not be, we can't pretend it's any different. We haven't made certain investments and struggled so much just to finish third or fourth. The aim will be to fight for every race win and the world title. I know it's difficult, extremely difficult, and only one will be able to do it”.
Next year sees the arrival of KTM, could it be an important ally when negotiating with the Japanese?
“It will depend on the attitude that KTM will have. To be honest, I don't think I've seen any great collaboration from them during these initial phases”.
