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澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:standings, after winning his fourth race in a row at the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:San Marino MotoGP.
There are six remaining - raising the possibility that Ducati could issue team orders🌄 and൩ 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 Case🐬y Stoner in 2007, a long൩ time ago.
“It is possible. We go to tracks where we wilꦺl be competitive.”
Ducati have Enea Bastianini, Jack Mi♋ller and Johann Zarco among their riders battling for podium spots and race wins.
Gresini Ducati rider Bastiꦆanini engaged in a stunning final lap shootout with Ducati Lenovo’s Bagnaia at the San Marino MotoGP, which Bagnaia won.
It was a highly risky duel which might have backfired - and might have convinced Ducati to ask their riders not to repeat the whee▨l-to-wheel action.
Ciabatti said: “We won’t try any super-aggress💟ive 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 any of the riders!
“If somebody can win, maybe don’t try on the last corner to pass hღim. That’s what we💛 need to clarify.”
With six rounds remaining, Quartararo’s main 𓂃hopes for victory could be at Phillip Island and Thailand.
“In principle, you may be right,” Ciabatti said. “But we haven’t been to Phillip Island for years and ൲our bike has improved.
“The bike has improved to t✤he point where it can be competi𒀰tive anywhere.”
Ciabatti reflected on Bagnaia’s win at Misano: “We needed to win and put as man🐼y bikes on possible [on top].
“The gap is now 30 points. There 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 close t🐼o disaster i🎃n this situation [the last lap].
“We have memories fr🌌om Argentina 2016 and we don’t want this repeated! Luckily it was okay, and two Ducatis were on the podium.
“When youඣ have a bike as competitive as Duಞcati last year, the new bike tries to be a bit better.
“[Bagnaia and Bastianini’s] bikes are similar so it is the ri🍸der making the difference.
“The 2023 bikes need to b🦹e better because we sඣee Aprilia have made a big step and are fast.”
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything 𝓀from American sports, to football, to F1.
