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Ducati MotoGP Boss Spotted Blasting Rival Team Mechanic

Saajan Jogia

Apr 16, 2023; Austin, TX, USA; Francesco Bagnaia (1) of Italy and Ducati Lenovo Team prepares to race at the starting grid during the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas on April 16, 2023, at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2023; Austin, TX, USA; Francesco Bagnaia (1) of Italy and Ducati Lenovo Team prepares to race at the starting grid during the MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas on April 16, 2023, at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports / Dustin Safranek-USA TODAY Sports

Ducati’s team manager, Davide Tardozzi, appeared to be blasting one of Aprilia's mechanics in a video on social media. While the reason for the outburst is not officially known yet, another video of the same mechanic appeared on social media of him busy filming VR46 Racing Team's GP23 MotoGP bike closely.

The video of Tardozzi confronting Aprilia's mechanic appears to be from the German Grand Prix, as per GPOne.com, which states that the Ducati team boss summoned Aprilia’s technical chief, Romano Albesiano, to discuss the matter after his encounter with the mechanic.

The mechanic was caught spying on the GP23 left outside the VR46 garage for display by filming it with a tablet. This could be what led Tardozzi to lose his cool, as seen in the video. While one would expect such spy agents to operate discreetly, sadly, such antics do not come under the regulations that govern MotoGP.

As a result, many teams have been known to employ photographers to spy on other bikes. To tackle the spying issue, photographers are not allowed into the pit boxes unless they are hired by the respective teams. However, considering Ducati's dominance in MotoGP, it isn't surprising that rival teams have been desperate to get a closer view of their bikes.

Ducati showcased its dominance at the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, securing the top four positions, with Francesco Bagnaia leading the charge, followed by Pramac’s Jorge Martin, Enea Bastianini, and Marc Marquez. The race also saw Ducati extend its podium lockout record to eight.

Ducati’s general manager, Gigi Dall’Igna, stated that this commanding performance reflects the “real values” of the 2024 MotoGP championship. Speaking on the outstanding race in the post-grand prix debrief, as reported by Crash.net, Dall’Igna said:

“Not surprisingly, the top four positions of the race reflect the overall world championship standings and therefore the real values [of the championship] on the track.

“Thanks to all our riders, who honor the strength of our bike and, above all, a special thanks to all the girls and boys of Ducati Corse for their invaluable work.”

He added:

“More records that will go down in the annals of history with another full podium for Ducati, at a track of great success for us, which sees us victorious for the ninth time, and marks Bagnaia's 25th win in MotoGP, the third in a row here.

“Bagnaia thus joins the ten riders with the most wins in premier class history: he does so with a long race that he practically dominated from start to finish and with an emphatic double after his Saturday sprint win.

“It was an unwavering superiority, with a disarming authority and an exemplary management of the race in a very delicate context, due to the high temperatures on a track where avoiding overtaking is a particularly important facet.

“And so it was: after taking the lead in the race, he always kept it under control, with an impressive pace and an incredible lucidity, never leaving his rivals any chance to respond, delivering his crucial 'blow' when it was time to close the triumph. 

"An absolute champion. Predictably, Pecco had more to offer than anyone else.”

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Saajan Jogia

SAAJAN JOGIA

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