Ducati chief makes scathing Formula 1 comparison over MotoGP regulation changes

The 2026 season has seen an end to the dominant streak of Ducati, with their 88-race run of consecutive podiums being obliterated in the opening round of the season by Aprilia. The season is perhaps the first and most glaring example of how the concessions system is designed to work, by limiting the development of the best teams and granting extra testing and upgrades to those at the lower-end of the field, the system is designed to create a more balanced competitive landscape.

However, it is not as simple as that. Just as Formula 1 has come under criticism for 'artificial racing' this year, MotoGP could be at risk of becoming an 'artificual championship' if the best teams are unfaily disadvantaged and regulators interfere too much in the sporting aspect. While the rules are clearly well-intentioned in their conception, the reality is that it could bring about an end to iconic legacies such as Rossi's Yamaha years or, more recently, Ducati's most successful spell in their 70-year racing history.

Gigi Dall'Igna, widely regarded as one of the best technical minds in the sport, has been credited as one of the driving forces behind Ducati's ressurgence, and he did not hold back when giving his assessment of the current 'sporting' regulations.

Speaking at a sponsorship event in Milan, Dall'Igna made the following scornful remarks as he laid into the rules system of modern MotoGP, criticizing the egalitarian system which punishes the most successful teams:

"It's the difference between entertainment and sport," he said, "and if ours were pure sport, then concessions wouldn't even be conceivable: it's not like they'd let Duplantis compete in pole vault with a shorter pole than the others. But that's sport, whereas we're not just sport, we're also entertainment , and it's such an expensive reality that some compromises have to be made."

Such is the case that the newly formed partnership between Dorna Sports and Liberty Media has been rebranded the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group. But Dall'Igna believes that a fair balance can be struck between fair sport and manufactured entertainment:

"However, I'm fine with it up to a point: the entertainment is fine, but I'd like MotoGP to remain primarily a sport, with the best team winning.

"I expect Liberty Media to make our championship shine, building on the wonderful work they've done with Formula 1. Also because our show is superior , we don't need gimmicks. It's right to take inspiration from everyone, including Formula 1, but without distorting ourselves; MotoGP must remain human-scale."

Dall'Igna was also asked about the sensitive topic of engineers and team members leaving to depart for rival manufacturers, an issue which may have had a role in Aprilia's sudden rise.

"There are people who maintain a good relationship, others a little less so." He said, "In our organization, we raise the cultural level of the working group; I continue to think that the most important thing is to grow the motorcycle culture within the paddock. It's clear that when someone leaves, they take away a lot of important knowledge; that's the other side of the coin."

"We are the ones, the only ones, who haven't drawn from outside. And I've never copied anyone."

"Nowadays, with the new rules, you have to be almost a lawyer turned engineer." He added jokingly.

The Ducati team will be hoping to bounce back in Mugello next weekend and start scoring some consistent points. Currently the team sit fifth in the overall team standings, behind the VR46 satellite team.