For Gigi Dall'Igna, it is time to draw conclusions, and the result that appears makes him very satisfied. While in SBK he missed out on the riders' title, in MotoGP he simply dominated by putting 4 riders ahead of everyone else in the final standings.
Thus, at the press conference before Campioni in Festa, the general manager of Ducati Corse enjoyed the well-deserved applause from the audience.
"I like to assert actions more than words," he began his speech, "2024 was a truly amazing season that went beyond the most optimistic of expectations.
At the beginning of the year many people asked me if it was possible to repeat 2023, I answered that it would be difficult, but this season we did something incredible."
Martin, Bagnaia, Marquez and Bastianini were his jewels.
"In MotoGP we have done something special and probably unrepeatable, I find it hard to believe the numbers of this season," says Gigi, almost embarrassed, "I like to remember two in particular, the first being the 14 times Ducati monopolized the podium.
I remember perfectly the excitement I felt in Valencia when we had succeeded for the first time under my management, to do it 14 times out of 20 races says it all.
The other number I am particularly pleased about is the 8 Ducati riders in the top positions in the Sprint in Thailand, it means that all of our bikes finished ahead of our competitors.
I want to thank everyone who contributed to this project, first of all the people at home, then the teams and especially the riders."
In addition to the sporting results, Dall'Igna is also proud of another aspect.
"In my opinion, this year, in addition to speed and technology, Ducati also showcased the sportsmanship it is capable of," he stresses, "It let its riders fight for the championship until the end without team games and without helping or penalizing anyone."
The future, however, has already begun in Barcelona where, in their first test together, Bagnaia and Marquez got along surprisingly well, at least in terms of comments about the GP25.
"They are two champions, two riders with a lot of experience, so why not - Gigi comments - Their feelings were very similar and this, as Pecco said, helps our work because it gives us a confirmation of the way forward.First of all, they are two great champions and that is the thing in which they are most similar.
They both definitely have a lot of experience and are very determined. In terms of the differences from a riding point of view, Pecco is more of a late braker and Marc has more cornering speed, but they are two riders who know what it takes to win a world championship."
Seeing Marquez in red naturally pleased General Gigi: "when you see a champion riding your bike it's always a strong emotion," he says.
Then there is Superbike, where Ducati was once again the star.
"In SBK we didn't win the riders' title, but we reconfirmed the constructors' title. Alvaro had a bit of a mixed season, alternating between great races and others that were a bit more complicated.
Niccolò, on the other hand, was amazing in his debut year, he fought for the World Championship and lost it only at the last round.
I have to congratulate the whole structure and the whole team," was the chief's assessment, "I also like to point out the fact that we won the American championship and three races in the Japanese championship.
I always liked the results achieved in Japan a little better. Also, I congratulate Huertas who won the Supersport championship. It is also nice to remember Petrucci and Iannone, who made his return to the family."
BMW won, and for some it was helped too much by the Super Concessions.
"I obviously cannot force anyone, neither the organizer nor the Federation. It is clear that a domination by a manufacturer that has Super Concessions was not in the philosophy of Super Concessions. I guess there may be some reasoning to be done to regain the original philosophy," hoped the engineer.
The new Panigale V4R will not arrive until 2026, but the 'old' model still has something to say according to the engineer from the Veneto.
"For sure we will not wait for 2026, the day when the World Championship starts and I will think I cannot win it, it will be the time to stay at home and completely change jobs - he makes it clear - I believe it will be a complicated year in which we will have to give everything to give our riders a chance to fight for the title, but we will certainly not start off beaten.
We will fight until the end to bring the riders' title back to Borgo Panigale."
