Speaking during MotoGP⢠FP1 in Qatar, the Ducati Lenovo Team Manager denies Pecco wants to revert to the 2021 engine
Ducati Lenovo Team Manager Davide Tardozzi has responded to rumours that Francesco Bagnaia wants to revert to using the 2021 Ducati engine, instead of a 2022 spec the Italian marque have been testing ahead of the Grand Prix of Qatar.
âI donât know why people are always speaking about Ducati, blaming and blaming and blaming. Pecco didnât say the 2022 engine is wrong, I want the 2021 (engine),â commented Tardozzi to motogp.com pitlane reporter Simon Crafar during MotoGP⢠FP1.
âThis is b******* because we give to Pecco a different spec, you have the possibility to manage the engine towards the riding style of the rider, and this engine is towards the style of Pecco and Jack. The other guys were happy with a different spec, and thatâs what happened. We know another company in Sepang that brought three different specs. Why doesnât everybody go to this brand and ask âWhich one does Marc Marquez or another rider have?â
âWe are happy about the riderâs choice, I think weâve given all the riders the best possibility. Letâs see how the season starts and in the end weâll see what happens. It will be a tough season, a lot of competitive bikes and riders. An enjoyable Championship.â
Asked about how pre-season testing went for Ducati, Tardozzi confirmed they werenât focusing on setting the quickest lap times. The two days in Sepang and three days in Mandalika were about developing the new bike for last yearâs Team and Constructor Champions.
âI think that we did a different winter test this year. We didnât go out to make lap times. Because there were only five days of tests, we concentrated on developing. Weâll see here in Qatar if we did the right job or not.â
Bagnaia ended FP1 in P18 after a crash at Turn 6 in the closing stages, with teammate Jack Miller P13. – www.motogp.com
