Ducati had Francesco Bagnaia as its best rider in MotoGP in 2021, being runner-up. However, it was an especially successful season for the manufacturer, which proved to be one of the most versatile with three riders in the top five final – Bagnaia and Jack Miller from the factory team and Johann Zarco from the satellite Pramac.
Test rider Michele Pirro told the website GPOne.com that from a Desmosedici that only Casey Stoner could make competitive, he now had a «democratic» bike, on which all its riders have been able to be competitive lately:
– Since Stoner’s Ducati until today I would say that a lot has changed. Casey masked the problems of the bike, he got around the difficulties thanks to his extraordinary and immense talent. Now, Ducati has become a motorcycle for everyone; in fact we saw Pecco, Miller and [Jorge] Martin winning, as well as [Andrea] Dovizioso, [Danilo] Petrucci and [Jorge] Lorenzo, but also Zarco and [Enea] Bastianini got podiums. I think Ducati made a quick and easy bike.
Gigi Dall’Igna’s entry into the post of general manager is seen as a turning point for Ducati, and Pirro agrees: ‘Gigi is a master and a genius, both on and off the track. He brought the Ducati group together, getting the most out of each person and putting his ideas into practice. However, I would also like to mention Claudio Domenicali, who is our executive director, as well as Paolo Ciabatti and Davide Tardozzi, whose contribution was fundamental inside the garage’.