MotoGP, Dall’Igna: “Pecco? I would have liked to freeze him at the end of 2021”

Gigi Dall’Igna appears calm and relaxed as he offers his comments ahead of the upcoming MotoGP season. The first test session at Sepang has brought encouraging results, which leaves the team feeling optimistic: “We’ve had the first test of the year, and we selected a lot of material there. The focus was not on lap times, but on the work the riders need to do in the garage”.

The advantage of having eight bikes on track

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And initial impressions are positive: “We’ve started developing the new bike and I’m quite pleased. There are a few areas where we need to work a little, but I’m confident. The next test will be important, because it will be the last before the championship begins”. A season that will see the manufacturer on track with eight bikes: “It’s just a matter of organisation, it’s not a problem”. On the contrary, it brings advantages: “It’s important from a technical standpoint. We’ll have a lot more data, more information, and not only in terms of development, but also when seeking the best set-up during a race weekend”.

The aim is to get the job done

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Expectations are high, there’s no denying it, particularly on Pecco’s side of the garage, but Dall’Igna clarifies: “At the start of the year there’s no point giving one rider any advantage over another. It’s important to begin at the same level and see what happens. Sometimes the season is different, for many reasons, and I don’t think the Ducati team can make the difference at the start”. Will the title return to Ducati for the first time in 15 years?

The fastest rider at Sepang was Enea Bastianini, who rounded out day one in first place: “He did a great job during the tests. Sometimes it’s an advantage not having anything to develop. His pace was consistent. If he continues to work like that throughout the season, we’ll try to give him our full support of course”. Enea is aiming for top five in the championship, and Dall'Igna agrees: “That’s within his reach. Last year, his problems had to do with qualifying and the first laps of the race. He’s taken a big step forward with qualifying, and as for the other aspect, we’ll have to see in Qatar”.

A close connection with the Desmosedici

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Bagnaia just missed out on the title last year, meaning that expectations are very high after such an exceptional season finale. Dall’Igna jokes: "I would have liked to freeze Pecco and pull him out at the start of the year, he was in incredible shape at the end of the season! Joking aside, I think it’s always a mistake to freeze things. All our competitors will have taken important steps forward, and so standing still is never the best way to achieve results".

The latest version of the bike has now been unveiled, a bike that Dall'Igna is particularly attached to: "The Desmosedici is like a daughter to me, a creature that evolves and improves each year. I have a very special relationship with the bike and every time it reaches the podium, the first thing I do when it comes back into the garage is kiss it”. This is a new version, even better than its predecessor: "We’ll be fielding an evolution of two years, particularly in terms of the engine, which we hope will significantly boost the overall performance of the bike”.

Translated by Heather Watson

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