The motorcycle racing world was abuzz with the potential “exchange of the century”: Marc Marquez for Gigi Dall’Igna, or vice versa. The idea was to swap the most accomplished active rider for the most skilled engineer in the paddock. However, the dynamics of MotoGP don’t exactly work that way. As a result, Ducati retained its chief engineer and also acquired the Spanish champion.
As rumors had been suggesting, Honda tried to lure Gigi Dall’Igna. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Dall’Igna confirmed these speculations. He explained his decision to decline Honda’s offer, stating, “I am comfortable at Ducati. I’ve worked hard to get Ducati to a position where it’s considered a model. Leaving now might not have been logical. While I’ve achieved what I set out to do here, Honda presents an equally interesting and significant challenge.”
The challenge would have been immense, especially working with the Japanese, who have a very different mindset from the West. It remains a mystery whether Dall’Igna would have been able to influence that mindset.
Honda’s move to approach a European engineer is unprecedented. Historically, they’ve always preferred to keep things in-house, relying on their Japanese engineers. This shift can be interpreted in two ways. On one hand, it might indicate a sign of weakness, acknowledging that recent MotoGP innovations, like aerodynamics and lowering devices, which originated in Europe, have left them trailing. On the other hand, it could show Honda’s willingness to evolve, recognizing their shortcomings and being open to external influences.
Dall’Igna is curious to see Marquez’s performance on the Desmosedici. While he has no doubts about Marquez’s competitiveness, he’s keen to see how his presence might disrupt the internal dynamics of the team. “This is a concern, one of the challenges to face,” Dall’Igna mentioned. “We’ll need to skillfully manage strong riders with strong personalities. Beyond Marc, we already have a significant concentration of champions. Another one is coming, perhaps more prominent, but it’s a job we know how to do.”