The team manager spoke about the situation in Ducati Corse and also about how he relates to the riders, as a former rider. On Marc Marquez: “It was a wall”
February 1, 2023
Davide Tardozzi gave an interview to Manuel Pecino on Speedweek. Tardozzi on 30 January completed 64 years old, was a rider and between 1988 and 1992 raced in Superbike. Out of 75 races he won 5 and finished on the podium 11 times. His best season was 1988, when on Bimota, he finished third in the championship, behind the winner Merkel and Pirovano. In SBK he did two years with Bimota and the last three with Ducati.
He has been the team manager for Ducati MotoGP since 2014 and Pecino explained that Tardozzi “he is the man of the Ducati trio, which takes care of the official team of the Italian manufacturer on the track”. Then he added: “Compared to the nice Gigi Dall’Igna and al politically correct Paolo CiabattiTardozzi is known for letting his emotions run freein good times and in bad”, a bit, making a comparison with football, as if it were the alter ego of Adrian Galliani.
How work works in Ducati Corse
Tardozzi agrees with Pecino’s view: “I think so. The good thing about Ducati Corse right now is that Dall’Igna, who like General Manager is the boss of all, but leave enough room for me and Ciabatti (sporting director) when it comes to our areas. Gigi is very focused on what he does best: technical management and making us work in our areas.”
“I think this situation, have three people in different roles who talk to each other and exchange their situations, has given Ducati Corse the ability to better manage situations”.
“You have to give the pilot what he needs, not what he asks for”. And about 2020…
About the pilots…
“I understand what a rider thinks, but I don’t think like a rider. I mean, I know what he’s thinking but I don’t give him everything he asks for. Rather, my job is to give him everything he needs. That’s a difference. The the pilot begs, begs, begs… You have to give him what is useful, not what he asks for” Tardozzi clarified.
On Bagnaia’s victory…
“It’s very difficult to win the MotoGP title because the championship is very, very competitive, both in terms of riders and manufacturers. I think we had to wait a little too long because I think we had a chance to win the title a couple years ago. Finishing second four times in five years shows that you are among the best in the field. But for various reasons it didn’t work then.”
Tardozzi refers to 2020 explaining that that year, with Marquez injured, the Ducati should have won…
“Marc Márquez, in a sense, was a wall. Because he is one of those few riders who leave their mark. Only four, five or six riders have done it in the decades since the world championships have existed.”
