Ducati getting a new engineer?

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rezonator636

rezonator636

Joined
Aug 21, 2013
Messages
342
Location
Louisiana, USA
Check out this little nugget, posted on SportRider.com just yesterday...


 


http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_13010_nicky_hayden_aprilia_on_hold_honda_calling/


 


Here's the skinny, for those who don't have time to go through the article. Seems Ducati are hell-bent on hiring Aprilia's top 


engineer, Gigi Dall'igna, as they figure he's the only guy out there that can fix the two-wheeled turd known as the GP13. It's no secret that Ducati have been courting Dall'igna (it's mentioned in the 'what's wrong with the Duc thread, if I recall), but despite what we've heard earlier, Dall'igna is actually considering the offer seriously. According to the article, he may sign with Ducati as early as next week. 


 


This has thrown a huge monkey wrench into the whole "Nicky Hayden to Aspar" deal. If Dall'igna goes to Ducati, he wants Hayden there. Hayden, understandably, wants to get the hell away from Ducati. So it may be that Hayden rides for Aspar after all, but on the Honda production racer, with a little backing from American Honda. 


 


Personally, I'd love to see Hayden back on a Honda. But the big question is: will Dall'igna really make the jump? 


 


 


 


 
 
rezonator636
3626391381102337

Check out this little nugget, posted on SportRider.com just yesterday...


 


http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_13010_nicky_hayden_aprilia_on_hold_honda_calling/


 


Here's the skinny, for those who don't have time to go through the article. Seems Ducati are hell-bent on hiring Aprilia's top 


engineer, Gigi Dall'igna, as they figure he's the only guy out there that can fix the two-wheeled turd known as the GP13. It's no secret that Ducati have been courting Dall'igna (it's mentioned in the 'what's wrong with the Duc thread, if I recall), but despite what we've heard earlier, Dall'igna is actually considering the offer seriously. According to the article, he may sign with Ducati as early as next week. 


 


This has thrown a huge monkey wrench into the whole "Nicky Hayden to Aspar" deal. If Dall'igna goes to Ducati, he wants Hayden there. Hayden, understandably, wants to get the hell away from Ducati. So it may be that Hayden rides for Aspar after all, but on the Honda production racer, with a little backing from American Honda. 


 


Personally, I'd love to see Hayden back on a Honda. But the big question is: will Dall'igna really make the jump? 
Click to expand...


Thanks for posting this.
 
hayden69champ
3626461381115297

Im sure Aprilla wont give up without a fight they could lose a lot from this. 
Click to expand...


 


I'm assuming they're going to offer Dall'igna the world, but Ducati is supposedly offering a blank check. This is going to get very interesting. 
 
Very interesting. Luring away.a career Aprilia guy...

What is interesting is that it's taken this long to identify what should be a cornerstone of the development process.
 
Biaggi went on Twitter about ten hours ago, wishing Dall'igna good luck at Ducati. So I guess that's it...
 
rezonator636
3628781381362278

Biaggi went on Twitter about ten hours ago, wishing Dall'igna good luck at Ducati. So I guess that's it...
Click to expand...


Perhaps Cal is a little smarter than he has been credited for being. Either that or lucky, but either way he has the fat factory contract and some chance of a bike at least better than a satellite Yamaha or Honda in his second year at Ducati; I can't see Dall' Igna being able to turn things around in time for next year. Certainly suggests Audi are serious about competing in motogp, presuming Dall'Igna going to Ducati means carte blanche for him when he gets there as suggested by superbike planet (admittedly perhaps not the most reliable source concerning matters Motogp) in the article linked on the other thread.
 
michaelm
3628861381371332

Perhaps Cal is a little smarter than he has been credited to be. Either that or lucky, but either way he has the fat factory contract and some chance of a bike at least better than a satellite Yamaha or Honda in his second year at Ducati; I can't see Dall' Igna being able to turn things around in time for next year. Certainly suggests Audi are serious about competing in motogp, presuming Dall'Igna going to Ducati means carte blanche for him when he gets there as suggested by superbike planet (admittedly perhaps not the most reliable source concerning matters Motogp) in the article linked on the other thread.
Click to expand...


 


I'd say more lucky than smart, but either way, Cal seems to have walked into a pretty sweet situation. 
 
Congratulations to Dall'igna for putting his balls on the line. If he can turn it around given a few years, he can go down in Ducati history with the best of them. But it is a shame that Aprilia weren't able to hold onto him giving the progress they are making with their little project.
 
I'm still hoping that Gigi is just trying to game Piaggio into devoting more resources to the MotoGP effort.
 
Dr No
3628911381396675

I'm still hoping that Gigi is just trying to game Piaggio into devoting more resources to the MotoGP effort.
Click to expand...


I am not, if he goes to Ducati there is a very good chance we will see them become competitive, and I for one am very exited to see this unfold over the next two seasons, he will have his work cut out for sure, but with Yamaha seemingly at the end of their current concept, Ducati could be a threat, plus it will be fun to watch every one who has slagged them off on here, start saying they knew it would all work out in the end.
 
I get that. And I do hope for more competitive bikes on the grid.


The question is; if the Gigi rumours are correct, just what the .... were they paying Gob for?


And if Aprilia's efforts are hobbled by Gigi leaving, the net result over "the next two seasons" will be a loss of competition versus Yamaha and Honda.
 
Dr No
3628961381401162

I get that. And I do hope for more competitive bikes on the grid.


The question is; if the Gigi rumours are correct, just what the .... were they paying Gob for?


And if Aprilia's efforts are hobbled by Gigi leaving, the net result over "the next two seasons" will be a loss of competition versus Yamaha and Honda.
Click to expand...


They have been paying Gob to do exactly what he has done, to get very talented people like GiGi in, Gob will only oversee the whole, he is obviously doing something right if GiGi is onboard.


 


As for Aprilia, I don't see them ever making a road bike truly competitive with the prototypes, as much as it completely ....... pains me to agree with anything Jumkie says, take away the tyres and extra fuel and it would be a long way of the pace, add in Aliex and its obvious there is only one fast ART.
 
It's official now, Dall'Igna to Ducati as director of Corse. 
 
Dr No
3629051381405527

I wonder which yacht catalogue he is flicking through...
Click to expand...


As someone said he is putting his balls on the line, after almost constant success at Aprilia, so if I was him I definitely would have required  megabucks, even if I had a strong ambition to mount a serious premier class challenge anyway, since both Marlboro and Ducati have shown little sentiment even in regard to those who have had tremendous success for Ducati, let alone those who have not.


 


One implication from all this for me as has been said elsewhere would seem to be that Aprilia were not looking to make a full factory/prototype challenge in the premier class, something Dorna have always seemed curiously indifferent to them doing anyway; perhaps they are inimical to Aprilia due to them making more money out of the old 250 class than Dorna themselves ever did.
 
Adding to this, I believe Cal was privy to Ducati's approach to GiGi, despite what some are saying, Cal's integrity is intact, all he has ever asked for is to have a competitive factory bike, it looks like he has made a wise choice, not only has he got his wish, he may be one of the few who actually have a bike designed around him.
 
la-pirata
3629171381408167

Adding to this, I believe Cal was privy to Ducati's approach to GiGi, despite what some are saying, Cal's integrity is intact, all he has ever asked for is to have a competitive factory bike, it looks like he has made a wise choice, not only has he got his wish, he may be one of the few who actually have a bike designed around him.
Click to expand...


I agree it is good news for Cal....


Ducaudi have made some smart moves this year....good on them....lets hope it pans out well for them....
 
I wonder how much money Ducaudi brought to the table? The loss of prestige of being beaten by Aprilia was maybe just too much to contemplate?


 


Hope he can make some changes. I've owned a lot more Aprilia's than Ducatis, but still have a soft spot for the Borgo Panigale Bunch.
 
J4rn0
3629031381404004

It's official now, Dall'Igna to Ducati as director of Corse. 
Click to expand...


But to what extent does he appreciate the significance of 'VSG's'?
 

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