‘After 30 years I am still here trying to win races’ Gigi Dall’Igna
Ducati’s tech supremo opens up about the year ahead and his journey to the top of MotoGP
With MotoGP’s first wave of winter testing complete and the second wave in Qatar concluding this week, Ducati’s dominance looks set to continue. The three days of testing in Sepang showed how the red machines will once again start this year’s campaign as the bikes to beat, with four riders – Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini with the brand new GP24 and Alex Marquez with the GP23
– in the top four spots. And ominously, all four dipped under the previous Sepang record and all under the 1’57 mark.
The man credited with Ducati’s turnaround is technical genius Gigi Dall’Igna. Since his arrival from Aprilia where he headed their title-winning WSBK project with Max Biaggi, Dall’Igna has revitalised the Italian factory, taking them from mere contenders to being the strongest and most dominant force on the MotoGP grid.
MCN sat down with the 58-yearold Italian after the Sepang test to discuss the pace of his riders and the career choices that elevated him to the pinnacle of racing.
How are you feeling after the Sepang test?
“We are very satisfied, but it would not be intelligent to make any kind of predictions yet. We have to wait for the first races.”
Everyone has a ‘sliding doors’ moment in their career. What was yours?
“Maybe it happened with the Aprilia superbike project, because the RSV4 was an important project that made Aprilia Racing significant in the four-stroke sector and, probably, also opened up a few paths for me in the world of motorcycles in general.”
But even before that? Didn’t you dream of working in car racing?
“To be honest, I only expected to spend two years in the racing world, I thought it would be a reality where I would learn everything quickly. And then the plan was to start a ‘normal’, serious job. Instead, more than 30 years later, I’m still here trying to win races.”
What did you dream of when you were younger?
“If I go all the way back to school, I always liked physics. I would have liked to become a physicist rather than an engineer. But I always thought I was not intelligent enough to be a good physicist, so I preferred to follow this other path.”
Do you still read any physics books?
“No. But I would like to get a degree at some point.”
Can you imagine life outside the world of racing?
“There are so many things I like.
And nature is among them. Being in the woods, in the snow, in the middle of the sea. I like being away from cities, in general.”
And away from people?
“No. People are always important to me, and I couldn’t live alone. I need family, friends around me, I just can’t be alone.”
Your son Andrea does high jump, track & field, and competes in skiing…
“Sport, competitions, are an important school of life, because they teach you how to lose. They give fundamental lesson in life, since there are very few times when you win, and many times when you lose. You have to be good at learning how to do it.”
What does winning teach instead?
“It gives you a sense of satisfaction, an internal well-being that, when you are on the podium and raise the cup to the sky, gives you an incredible feeling. And I get excited every time I see an athlete of any sport raising the cup to the sky, because I know how many sacrifices it takes to be up there.”
In 2023 you did even better than in 2022. Can you improve further in 2024?
“Doing better is always a possibility, and that has to be the goal. The numbers (in terms of wins and podiums) in 2023 are impressive. If you look at them in a very analytical way, you realise that it’s probably a season destined to be unique.”
Ducati’s CEO Claudio Domenicali says concessions given to other brands make Ducati wins even more valuable…
“Certainly, the concessions give an advantage to the other manufacturers, allowing some of them to risk more, being able to change engines, or having additional fairings. I expect them to be competitive, as we have seen during testing in Sepang.”
You have said that it is worse to lose an engineer than a rider. Max Bartolini has become technical director at Yamaha.
“These are heavy losses, because they take important know-how to another manufacturer and because they were people highly integrated into our structure. For me, the working group is the number one priority. Replacing someone as important as Max will not be easy.”
Bagnaia is going for his third title. Will you renew his contract before the opening race in Qatar?
“We are working for that. But you know, the contract of a two-time world champion is always complicated.”
How do you see Pecco in 2024 compared to Pecco in 2023?
“With even more awareness.”
And what about Bastianini? He seems very calm
“I see Enea more serene than at the beginning of last championship. That makes me very happy.”
Marc Marquez is trying to start the season with a very low profile.
“This shows that he is an intelligent person.”
And who will be the surprise of 2024?
“It’s always difficult to make these kinds of predictions. And it’s definitely too early to be doing that sort of thing. So let me just say that we will have to wait and see what happens in the races.”
‘Sport gives you fundamental lessons in life’
‘Doing better is always a possibility, and that has to be the goal’