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Paolo Ciabatti enjoyed a memorable weekend at the Sachsenring for Ducati. In fact, on Sunday, the Rossa placed eight bikes in the first nine positions, writing a new page in history. It was impossible to expect more, and the sporting director of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer praised what all the guys did in the official and private teams.
He talked about this and more with us just a few moments after the conclusion of the Sachsenring Grand Prix, crowned with a 1-2-3 for Martin-Bagnaia-Zarco.
"I think it was a really nice weekend for Ducati colours - Ciabatti said - I think Sunday's race thrilled those who followed it from home with the fight for victory. Pecco tried, but Martin was strong and in the end they both reached the final sprint with Jorge winning. Seeing five Ducatis up front, on a track historically not favourable to our bikes, confirms that the Ducati works well at the Sachsenring with all the riders and different riding styles. I think we have done a great job in terms of technical development and also in the choice of riders."
In the final stages there was a bit of tension with the contact between the two challengers for the win.
“Pecco is the world champion rider and both he and Jorge were very good. Bagnaia tried, Martin was very good at holding firm. Of course, there are moments which made our hair stand on end like the contact at the last corner. In the end though, on a theoretically difficult track, this result is great and now we're thinking about Assen”.
Then Ciabatti had a word to say about the year of Jorge's arrival in MotoGP.
“Jorge did great things in Moto2 and without the Portimao accident he might have blossomed sooner, given that that episode conditioned him. Perhaps he was missing something in managing the second part of the race, but he worked a lot on preparation, and I think the investment we made is the right one”.
When will you start talking about a contract renewal with Martin?
“Martin has a two-year contract with us. If he had received an offer from a factory team, he would have had the opportunity to tell us in order to eventually match the offer. It doesn’t seem that he has received any offers from factory teams, even less that he has any intention of stepping off a Ducati after the last few races. Martin will therefore be on the Pramac Ducati in 2024 as planned".
Marquez was missing at the Sachsenring.
“It’s heart-breaking to see a champion like Marc crash so many times. Trying to get results if the bike isn't right risks creating incidents but involving other riders. I feel sorry for Marc, as well as seeing Honda and Yamaha in difficulty".
But what if Marc came looking for a Ducati?
"There is no place for any other riders, we already have many and we are happy with ours"
