Ducati tries again: an Italian manufacturer winning with an Italian rider. The Italian excellence on streetbikes still struggles to beat the Japanese rivals in MotoGP, and its hopes of a fellow countryman winning the rider’s championship while Ducati wins the manufacturer title still remains out of reach. With only one world title in its tally (Casey Stoner 2007), all of Ducati’s hopes in an all-Italian dream team with Valentino Rossi turned into a disaster that ended in 2013. Ducati then invested a fortune (25 million euros for 2017 and 2018) in five-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo, while the underdog Andrea Dovizioso finished runner-up three years straight (2017, 2018, 2019). Dovizioso’s results were not enough for his renewal, and now Ducati is investing in two young talents for 2021: Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia and Jack Miller. Will Pecco succeed to accomplish the mission that Rossi failed? We spoke about it with Pecco himself.
How does it feel to be a factory rider?
It’s the crowning of a special relation. I chose to be a Ducati rider even before becoming the Moto2 World Champion in 2018, and they chose me even before knowing that one day I would become one. This was our bet, because up until that moment, I had always been a fast rider but I didn’t have anything concrete in my pocket.
Looking back at your MotoGP debut with Pramac Ducati, it was more complicated than expected.
In a way, the fact that I had won the Moto2 title in 2018 made me live in a bubble. I was living in a fairy tale, as I had finally achieved the dream of becoming a world champion that I was cultivating since I was a kid. The season was tough, but at Ducati they never questioned me; they gave me all the support and trust a rookie needs and they let me get experience in 2019.
Which lesson did you learn from this difficult time?
To remain calm even when things don’t go well. This is one of the first pieces of advice that Valentino Rossi gave me when I entered Moto3.
This season has been a roller coaster with a result that doesn’t reflect your speed (13th in the championship).
The bike is competitive, and I have a very good feeling, but I had bad luck. At Jerez my maiden podium was spoiled by a technical issue. A fractured leg sustained during the Czech Republic Grand Prix weekend meant I missed three races. I returned with a fantastic second-place finish at Misano, and only an untimely crash prevented me from my first MotoGP win.
Andrea Dovizioso has been struggling, while you succeed to use the potential of the GP20. What is your secret?
Ducati is very stable in braking. I succeed using this strong point while entering into the corner, and then I use all that speed by making the bike turn a bit earlier. The engine is powerful, and I can make the difference in the straights.
Did you expect the Ducati and Dovizioso break?
Sincerely, it was unexpected and it felt strange to see the word “unemployed” on the back of his leathers at Misano. It’s a pity and also strange to think of Ducati without Dovizioso.
An Italian rider on an Italian bike. Will you succeed where the Doctor failed?
The bike I’m riding now is completely different from Valentino’s bike so we cannot make comparisons, but it would be very special to win the Red.
You are a VR46 Academy rider. Did you speak with this mission with Valentino?
Valentino was very happy with my promotion to the factory team, which is a success also for the whole program. Now two riders of the Academy, myself and Franco (Morbidelli), made it from the junior classes to MotoGP. It’s a great satisfaction for everybody.
Any other words of advice from the Doctor?
Training with Valentino is unique. More than many words, he gives the example.
Originally from Turin, you moved to Tavullia when you were 17 to train at the Ranch.
I inherited the passion for motorcycles from my dad and grandfather, but Turin does not have a racing tradition and it’s difficult to train, so I moved to Tavullia to be closer to Valentino. It was hard at the beginning, but it was the best choice. It also helped me on a personal level—to grow up and be more independent.