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Monday at Valencia is always a strange day, in limbo between the past, which came to end with Sunday's race, and the future, which begins with testing on Tuesday. The mechanics are at work in the garages, the riders sit on their new bikes for the first time. The calm before the storm.
In this atmosphere, Gigi Dall’Igna sits down and takes a look back at 2016 while also starting to write Ducati's 2017 story.
“I want to start by thanking Iannone - his first words - Yesterday he completed a fantastic race, I was very happy for him. It was great that he left us this way after four years, he raced with Ducati in his heart”.
But yesterday Andrea also set out to prove a point…
“It's clear that at the end of a relationship, there might be things that are not taken well. I've read his statements carefully and he speaks about sensations, but he realises that we didn't deny him anything. I would like to address the controversy by saying that we spent four fantastic years together and we owe him a great deal. I would like to remember the best times”.
Turning to the 2016 season as a whole, how would you sum it up?
“I'm pleased with this year, a little less in terms of the standings because we scored less points than we could have. But, from a technical standpoint, I'm extremely happy, we've achieved two wins, also scoring pole position and the fastest lap on those occasions, I sign that the bike and team were the best”.
It didn't all go so well though…
“In other cases we suffered more, but this happened less than it did last year, meaning that our level has increased. We were only in real difficulty a couple of times”.
Now attention turns to the new bike, on which areas has the work focused?
“Our weak point is that we struggle to get the bike to turn mid-corner, and that's the problem we want to resolve. At the same time, we'll also work on our strong points, like the engine”.
You'll have to do without the winglets and there will be limitations in place with regard to fairing development…
“We don't make the regulation, a compromise has been made in the framework of the MSMA. This rule limits the possibility to develop over the course of the year but not in general, a little like what happens with the engine”.
Was it necessary to limit aerodynamic development?
“We only go to the wind tunnel a few times per year, there is no escalation in costs in this area in MotoGP. Anyway, the bike you will see tomorrow will not have the definitive fairing and we'll use the winglets, as we're interested to see the effect of certain modifications on the chassis”.
Have you already talked to Lorenzo?
“It's normal to meet up, as we did today, to explain the bike and introduce the team to him. We didn't say a great deal, it's not important what happens tomorrow but what happens in the first race”.
Will you have to adapt more to him or him to you?
“Jorge will clearly need to understand that he's riding a different bike and, to be able to express its full potential, he'll need to modify his style. On the other side, we also know that we have a great rider joining us and we need to offer him the best possible conditions”.
How significant is it that Lorenzo cannot take part in next week's tests at Jerez?
“It would have been an important test, but not that important. We've already planned the 2017 tests and I'm relaxed about it. There's a lot we can do with Pirro and Petrucci, we'll collate useful information regardless”.
And Stoner?
“Casey is not only a brand ambassador for us and we've considered increased the number of tests he'll complete. The first will be at Sepang before the official tests in January”.
Do you have just one aim for the coming year?
“After making certain investments, the only aim can be to fight for the world title. I'm not talking about 2017 specifically, but all of the coming years”.
We haven't mentioned Dovizioso in all this…
“I haven't forgotten him, Andrea has been a main player with Ducati and it is also thanks to him that we've been able to develop the bike. All of Ducati would be very happy if we were able to win the title with him”.
