San Marino MotoGP: Ducati say “we don’t like team orders” but plan to assist Francesco Bagnaia’s title charge
Bagnaia is 30 points behind Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo, who leads the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:standings, after winning his fourth race in a row at the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:San Marino MotoGP.
There are six remaininไg - raising the possibility that Ducati could issue team orders and use their numerical superiority to thwart Quartararo.
“We don’t like team orders but, obviously, we 💛also have to think about winning the rider’s championship,” Ducati sporting director Ciabatti told BT Sport.
“We’ve only won once, with Ca🐽sey Stoner in 2007, a long time ago.
“It is poss☂ible. We go to tracks where we will be competitive.”
Ducati have Enea Bastian🐼ini, Jack Miller and Johann Zarco among their riders battling for podium spots and race wins.
Gresini 💦Ducati rider Bastianini engaged in a stunning final lap shootout with Ducati Lenovo’s Bagnaia at the San Marino MotoGP, which Bagnaia won.
It was a high𓄧ly risky duel which might have backfired - and might have convinced Ducati to ask their riders not to repeat the wheel-to-wheel a♍ction.
Ciabatti said: “We won’t try any super-aggressive attacks on the last lap if we are first and second, because there is the risk that somebody will crash which would not be good for anyꦡ of the riders!
“If somebody can win, maybe don’t try on the last cওorner to pass him. That’s what we need to clarify.”
With six rounds re🌸maining, Quartararo’s main hopes for victory could be at Phillip Island and Thailand.
“In p༒rinciple, you may be right,” Ciabatti said. “But we haven’t been to Phillip Island for years and our bike has improved.
“The bike has 𝓰improved to the point where it can be competitive anywhere.𝕴”
Ciabatti reflected on Bagnaia’s win at Misano: “We needed to win and put as many bikes on possiblꦯe [on top].
“The gap is now 30 points. T🌳here is still a long way to go but it’s going in the right direction.
“The last lap was more thrilling than we wanted!
“You are so c𒁃lose to disaster in this situation [the last lap🌸].
“We have memories from Argentina 2016 and we d🦩on’t want this repeated! Luckily it w🧔as okay, and two Ducatis were on the podium.
“When you have a bike as competit🐓ive as Ducati last year, the new bike tries to be a b𒆙it better.
“[Bagnaia and♌ Bastianini’s] bikes are similar so it is the rider making theꦕ difference.
“The 2023 bikes need to ওbe better because we see Aprilia have made a big step and are fast.”
James♏ was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from Amer⭕ican sports, to football, to F1.
