LOSAIL. History repeats itself and once again the setting is that of the Qatar track, in Losail. Today the bikes entered the track only for the customary photos, but the tussle was unleashed among the manufacturers: target Ducati. Gigi Dall’Igna and his men have always been very good at finding new solutions among the folds of the regulation, then copied by all the others, with the introduction of spoilers on the fairings, to give just one example. However, these innovations have not always been frowned upon, in 2019, the result of the race in Qatar remained sub iudice after a protest over the “spoon”, the spoiler mounted in front of the rear wheel. That time Ducati won it, but this time the outcome could be different.
Aprilia, Ktm, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha have in fact lined up compactly against the new devilry in red: the front lowering unit. It is a system that allows you to vary the height of the front end of the bike, lowering it in a straight line. A similar device already exists for the rear and is in common use, but this evolution was only seen in winter tests. The protests were not long in coming and in the meeting of the MSMA (the association of MotoGP manufacturers) the other 5 manufacturers asked to ban it from next year. The reasons are related to the increase in costs and safety. On the last point, Pecco Bagnaia replied with a joke: “I don’t think it’s dangerous, I just have to press a button”.
Ducati has been working on this system in secret for a year with test rider Michele Pirro and will probably have to give it up at the end of the year. The request is to abolish it from 2023 even if in Borgo Panigale they hope to be able to postpone the ban to 2024. This will be decided by the Grand Prix Commission, the only one that can decide on regulatory changes. Of course, the mood at Ducati is not the best, but for the moment they have preferred not to comment on what is happening and concentrate on the race weekend.
All eyes are on Pecco Bagnaia and he himself is the first to have high expectations. «On whom am I aiming for the victory of the World Cup? About myself – he said without false modesty -. I learned that it is important to have self-confidence and last year’s victories helped me to do so ». One of the most difficult seasons ever on paper awaits him, with Quartararo ready to defend the title he won last year and Marquez on the blocks from the first race. «My main opponent will be Fabio – Bagnaia’s prediction -. I am confident, now I know my potential ».