MotoGP: Ducati looks back on successful 2021 season – Roadracing World Magazine

MotoGP 2021. A fantastic season in numbers for Ducati

Last Sunday, at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Cheste, near Valencia (Spain), a MotoGP season destined to remain in Ducati history ended. Indeed, in 2021, the Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer has achieved the following significant results:

– 2021 was the best year ever for Ducati in terms of MotoGP podiums. The Borgo Panigale-based factory achieved 24 podiums with five different drivers: Pecco Bagnaia, Jack Miller, Jorge Martín, Johann Zarco and Enea Bastianini. It’s a record for Ducati, who have 2019 as their second-best year with 17 podiums.

Francesco Bagnaia (63).  Photo courtesy of Ducati.Francesco Bagnaia (63). Photo courtesy of Ducati.

– With seven wins in MotoGP in 2021, Ducati is the manufacturer to have achieved the most success this year. Eleven is the Italian manufacturer’s record number of wins in a single season, dating back to 2007.

– For the first time since its MotoGP debut in 2003, Ducati has placed three of its bikes on the podium in a single Grand Prix. This happened in the final round of the 2021 season; Pecco Bagnaia won the Gran Premio de la Comunitat Valenciana ahead of Jorge Martín and Jack Miller.

Jack Miller (43).  Photo courtesy of Dorna.Jack Miller (43). Photo courtesy of Dorna.

– Ducati won the Constructors’ title for the second consecutive year and for the third time in its MotoGP history. Five drivers contributed to the title win with a total of 357 points: Pecco Bagnaia (167 points), Jack Miller (63 points), Johann Zarco (86 points), Jorge Martín (25 points) and Enea Bastianini (16 points).

– The Ducati Lenovo Team won the MotoGP Teams World Championship with 433 points. It is the second world title won by the Ducati factory team. The first came in 2007 when Ducati also won its first World Constructors’ title and Casey Stoner became World Champion.

John Zarco (5).  Photo courtesy of Pramac Racing.John Zarco (5). Photo courtesy of Pramac Racing.

– For the first time in Ducati MotoGP history, the front row of the grid at the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was occupied by three Ducati bikes. Bagnaia took pole position in qualifying ahead of his teammate Jack Miller and fellow Ducati rider Luca Marini. The same happened in the final Grand Prix of the season, where Jorge Martín (Pramac Racing Team) started from pole ahead of Bagnaia and Miller.

– At least one Ducati has started from the front row at every Grand Prix of the 2021 season. Of the 54 front-row seats available at the 18 Grands Prix held, the Italian manufacturer has secured 30. That means Ducati bikes have occupied 55% of the front rows this season.

Jorg Martin (89).  Photo courtesy of Pramac Racing.Jorg Martin (89). Photo courtesy of Pramac Racing.

– The Ducati Lenovo Team riders have started from the front row from the top two places three times this year: at the San Marino GP, the Emilia Romagna GP and the Algarve GP.

– There have been at least 2 Ducati riders on the podium in 8 of the 18 races this season.

– In just 4 of the 18 races this season, no Ducati rider has finished on the podium. At least one Ducati has finished in the top four in 17 of the 18 races held this year. Only at Sachsenring was the best Ducati rider Bagnaia who finished fifth.

– For the first time in Ducati MotoGP history, a Ducati rider from an independent team took victory; Jorge Martín (Pramac Racing Team), winner of the Styrian GP.

– Jorge Martín (Pramac Racing Team) took his first pole position in the second Grand Prix of the 2021 season in his debut year in MotoGP. At the same Grand Prix, the Spaniard also took his first podium. Thanks to these achievements, Jorge was awarded Best MotoGP Rookie 2021.

Enea Bastianini (23).  Photo courtesy of Esponsorama Racing.Enea Bastianini (23). Photo courtesy of Esponsorama Racing.

– Martín’s teammate Johann Zarco won the title of Best Independent Driver 2021.

– Ducati factory-backed team Pramac Racing won the 2021 MotoGP Independent Team title.

– Ducati Lenovo team riders Pecco Bagnaia and Jack Miller achieved their best result so far in the 2021 MotoGP World Championship. With 252 points, Bagnaia finished the season second, 26 points behind title winner Fabio Quartararo. On the other hand, Miller finished fourth in the championship with 181 points, 97 points off the leader.

– With a total of four wins at Aragón, Misano, Portimão and Valencia, Bagnaia became the fourth Ducati rider to have the most wins in MotoGP with the Desmosedici GP.

Tomorrow and Friday 19 November, Ducati teams and riders will be back on track at the Circuit de Jerez – Ángel Nieto to face the first two days of winter testing in preparation for the 2022 MotoGP season.

Luca Marina (10).  Photo courtesy of Sky Racing Team VR46.Luca Marina (10). Photo courtesy of Sky Racing Team VR46.