Ducati before the MotoGP turning point? Domenicali names two factors

– Just a month ago, Claudio Domenicali would hardly have expected Ducati to seriously compete for the world championship again in MotoGP. Meanwhile, the situation has changed significantly.

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Before the summer break, five riders are within just 24 points, while the balance of power at the top has shifted several times recently.

“What seemed impossible a few weeks ago, namely thinking about fighting for the world championship, is certainly a possibility today. However, I think there is still a lot to see,” Domenicali explains on Sky Sport.

With this, the Ducati CEO sums up the development of the past weeks. While the Italian manufacturer could hardly expect a serious title fight in the first third of the season due to a large deficit, the world championship is completely open again before the summer break.

Domenicali sees two factors as decisive for the second half of the season: the performance of Fabio Di Giannantonio and the physical condition of Marc Marquez.

Domenicali also relies on Di Giannantonio

Di Giannantonio ended the first half of the season with a crash at the Sachsenring but remains fifth in the overall standings. According to the Ducati chief, however, the Italian still needs to take another step forward.

“It will strongly depend on whether Fabio Di Giannantonio gets back on track and whether he will find that extra bit of performance. That’s why he will be a very important contender,” says Domenicali with a view to the VR46 rider.

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For Ducati, “Diggia” could thus become an important factor in the title fight. Depending on how competitive the 27-year-old returns from the summer break, he could further influence the already tight battle at the top.

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Marquez’s right arm remains an issue

Even more important for Ducati is likely the physical condition of Marc Marquez. The Spaniard had a difficult start to the season due to a renewed injury to his right shoulder and later had to bring forward a planned operation on his arm after a crash in Le Mans.

However, Marquez has since made an impressive comeback. On tracks that suit his riding style with many left turns, the Ducati star has recently celebrated three wins. He won in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

Domenicali knows, however, that there are still some tracks waiting where the Spaniard has had greater difficulties so far. “We will see if Marc was able to rest his right arm enough during the break to compete on the tracks where he has suffered so much,” explains the Ducati CEO.

102 points deficit almost caught up

How quickly the situation in MotoGP can change is shown by looking at the past races. Still in Mugello, Marquez was a full 102 points behind the then world championship leader Marco Bezzecchi upon his return to the track.

At that time, there was little indication that Ducati would come back into reach of the world championship within a few races. However, then came Bezzecchi’s slump. The Aprilia rider went four Sundays in a row without scoring points and collected only 13 points over four Grand Prix weekends.

Additionally, Bezzecchi made negative headlines in Brno when he slapped a track marshal after his sprint race. His sporting crisis worsened at the Sachsenring: Bezzecchi suffered a clavicle fracture.

At the same time, Marquez found his form better and better. After barely shining at the start of the season due to his shoulder injury, he scored solid points in the last races before the summer break. He is only 18 points behind world championship leader Jorge Martin, with a maximum of 407 still to be awarded.

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