Ducati fans might think this a
little unfair. But Ducati have only
themselves to blame. Too many
strong riders, enabled by the
best racing bike in the world. It's
a tempting formula, but also a
way of diluting your success.
The last GP of the year was an
interesting case.
In 19 years in MotoGP, Ducati
have won only twice at Valen-
cia. Tight corners and no long
straight were a recipe that didn't
suit the fast but persistently
understeering bike. It took Troy
Bayliss and Casey Stoner to
overcome that—two exceptional
talents taking advantage of cir-
cumstance.
Most times, however, the race
has gone to Honda, with ten
wins to Yamaha's eight and Su-
zuki's one, since the track joined
the calendar in 1999.
Ducati's response to tight
tracks has, however, totally
changed over the past two
years. Hitherto the Duke's main
strength has been acceleration
and straight-line speed. Now,
a combination of adventurous
innovation and solid engineer-
ing strength has wrought what
Sunday winner Pecco Bagnaia
called "a perfect bike." It was his
fourth win in the past six races.
Ducati Lenovo factory team-
mate Jack Miller went further.
The Australian had dropped to
fourth at Valencia then scythed
D
ucati gave a lesson at
Valencia–how to win,
and win massively, when
you've lost. The Bologna Bullets'
first-ever dominant podium lock-
out added the team's title to the
constructors'. They went on to
set fastest time at the first 2022
season tests (where the latest
engines can be used) at Jerez
later in the week.
Desmosedici's ruled the
world.
But when history looks back
at 2020, Yamaha's Fabio Quar-
tararo will be the one who is
remembered.
It's the rider (to coin a phrase
much enjoyed by Valentino Ros-
si) who makes the difference.
P122
CN
III IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
IS DUCATI
DOMINATION
TOO MUCH
OF A
GOOD THING?
