DUCATI SURPRISE SUCCESS
Luck, not logic, can often open the door to success. Ducati know this all too well as they continue to race under the glory bestowed by their 2007 world champion, Casey Stoner.
Twelve years on, Ducati have still not found the next alien to make the difference to win a championship. The pathway is imprecise, with an unmeasurable combination of planning, luck and timing, according to Ducati sporting director Paolo Ciabatti. “You have to use your brain and assess riders on the track but sometimes choices become unexpectedly successful immediately,” Ciabatti said. “Three examples are Casey with Ducati, Marc Marquez with Honda and Fabio Quartararo with Petronas Yamaha.”
Not first choice
For the 2007 season, Stoner, an unproven championship contender from the Aussie outback, was Ducati’s fourth choice to replace Sete Gibernau. “He wasn’t first choice and he came for a lot less money but with big (deserved) bonuses,” Ciabatti said. “In 2012, Casey decided to retire. Honda offered him huge money to stay one more year but he said no. “Honda and Repsol got the young Moto2 champion Marc Marquez and, bang... they won their first championship in 2013.
“But what would have happened if Casey had stayed on the Honda in 2013? And we all know Petronas had other options before taking Fabio. “Eventually there will be somebody stronger than Marquez. But can you predict who it is going to be? No. “We all understand the talent but there is a part that is not measurable.”
Go to market
One way of eliminating the guesswork is to hire a known quantity. “A manufacturer going for Marquez will find it tough because Honda have the resources to match and increase any offer,” Ciabatti said.
“And it’s not as if there is an immediate replacement for Marc within Honda; they know that.
“I think Ducati and other teams have to go their own way and get, as you might say, the next Marquez, as Casey Stoner was on our bike.
“It is likely many slots will open with older riders retiring in 2021 but it could be difficult for some teams to sign the rider they want on the open market. ”So it helps if you have some young riders. Ducati have Bagnaia and Miller, and Suzuki, with Mir and Quartararo, are showing great potential.”