After the overwhelming dominance of Marc Márquez and his Ducati last season, expectations, despite the Spaniard’s injury, were high. The reality has been different and now Davide Tardozzi, director of Ducati Lenovo, has reviewed how things are going before the Sky cameras.
The truth is that from the outside it doesn’t seem like things are going very well, but there is nothing better than listening to the person in charge to understand what is happening. The interesting thing is that, as usual, Tardozzi does not hide and speaks clearly about a situation that has three axes: Aprilia, Márquez and tire management.
Regarding Aprilia, Davide has been clear and emphatic: «Aprilia has improved a lot. If we compare this year’s data with last year’s, they have gained between seven and eight tenths. Us, just one or two. “It is an impressive advance.”
But that’s when the current champion would have to use his talent to counteract it, but the reality is crueler than that: “Unfortunately, for Marc, what happened in Indonesia continues to have consequences. He is not yet in full shape.”
Tardozzi is clear that Marc is the pillar of the project and also that when he feels comfortable he is unbeatable. And he doesn’t say it just to say it, he says it with the data in hand: «In my opinion, Marc is not 100% yet». And he gives a concrete example seen in the race: «At the time he overtook Raúl Fernández and placed himself in front of Pecco and Bastianini, in 5-6 laps he gained eight tenths. This means that when he is well, he is able to stay ahead. But Márquez is Márquez.
Even so, he recognizes that the problems are not limited only to the eldest Márquez, because two other pillars of the brand are also suffering: «Di Giannantonio and Bagnaia have clearly said that they could not manage the rear tire. “They depended too much on their rear, the wear and tear was too high, especially on the right shoulder, and at a certain point they could no longer drive.”
Tardozzi does not give up: “There are still 19 races left”
In any case, Davide Tardozzi recognizes that Ducati is working and that they are not giving up. After all, the championship has just started and, in reality, if Marc had not had the problem with the tire in Thailand, we would be talking about a very different situation despite the problems.
Regarding the evolution and taking into account the deadline until the Spanish GP, Tardozzi said: «We expect something from the engineers. I’m sure Gigi is the first to be unhappy with this situation. We have to work on it and we hope to contribute something now in Jerez.
As for the moment they are living in, as we say, Davide does not give up and also coldly analyzes the situation: «There are still 19 races left, there is nothing lost, although now it seems that we are behind. Aprilia has taken a big leap, chapeau. But we have the possibility of getting back into the championship.”
There is no doubt that the one who was the first driver to win a WSBK race will continue to put his passion and determination ahead, recognizing mistakes and gritting his teeth.
«I don’t like to talk about bad luck, neither for ourselves nor for others. We have to work and that’s it. We have to be more careful in management and better understand what the pilots need. “There have been situations that have not put them in the best conditions.”
