2021 was a year to frame for Ducati in MotoGP: 7 victories with four different riders, complete with the Constructors ‘and Teams’ titles. Even among the Independents it was a domination, but the biggest target, that drivers ‘title that they have been chasing in Borgo Panigale since 2007. For the CEO Claudio Domenicali, however, this will remain one of the Reds’ seasons to remember.
“There is no regret, I am totally satisfied with how we finished. Then, it is clear that all the brands in MotoGP are aiming for the World Championship: the riders are the most prestigious, and Quartararo rightly won it, because he was good and constant throughout the season, he almost never made a mistake “, Domenicali said in a long interview granted to Gazzetta dello Sport.
“But in the eyes of the manufacturer, finishing with an all-Ducati podium, as never before in history, has enormous value, confirmed by the best time in the Jerez tests in view of 2022. Some missed opportunities, some mistakes by Pecco, some oddities in some tires fail to sadden a great 2021. Both Gigi and I (Dall’Igna, ed) consider this the best season ever “, he added.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Jack Miller, Ducati Team podium
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
In 2022, they will have a rather important new responsibility in Borgo Panigale. In the first season without Valentino Rossi, Ducati will have to attract the attention of Italian fans.
“I know, even if Valentino is irreplaceable, he is unique, a single person who embodied a combination of talent, determination, extreme result orientation and sympathy. On the other hand, however, Ducati represents much more than it was ten years ago, a solid, certain presence, a nice way of identifying oneself for Italians that is not only sporty, but also technological. Like Ferrari in F1, which is like the national team “.
As 2021 ended, the feeling is that next year represents a great chance for the drivers’ title. And the right man to go hunting seems to be Pecco Bagnaia, fresh from four victories in the last six races.
“Pecco finished in fantastic form, he is the rider who did best in the second half of the season. It took him a while to make the step in MotoGP, but after Aragon he made a turn. In reality it was seen that he was already ready for win, but for one reason or another he did not take her home. He is a very sweet boy, but when he enters the garage he is extremely determined, just look at the eyes and see a different face. In 2022 the title will be played “.
If there is something that excites Domenicali at the moment, even more than the results, it is the desire to innovate that can be felt throughout the team, including the drivers.
“I think Gigi has fully interpreted Ducati’s way of racing: we were the first to give wings in MotoGP and on a production bike. We like to get involved from an engineering and technological point of view to offer emotions. extraordinary both from the point of view of the guide and from that of the beauty of the design “.
“And racing is our advanced laboratory. There is a lot of performance design, which is one of the things that interest us most, because it develops knowledge, competence, know-how. And then there is great confidence on the part of the drivers. who face the new technological solutions with a positive spirit. in the past we struggled more, because some pilots had prejudices, instead we need to insist and experiment. There is this magical alchemy of pilots who trust engineers a lot “, he concluded.
![Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team](https://cdn-3.motorsport.com/images/mgl/0oOjNzx0/s8/francesco-bagnaia-ducati-team-1.jpg)
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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