The 2024 MotoGP season is in full swing and one thing is already clear: Ducati dominates the premier class of motorcycle racing like no other manufacturer. Four out of twelve MotoGP teams rely on the manufacturer from Borgo Panigale – a third of the grid relies on Ducati. In the constructors’ championship, Ducati is the undisputed leader with a lead of over 100 points over KTM.
The rise to dominance
The road to the top was not always easy. In the early 2000s, when Casey Stoner won his world title with Ducati, it was all about the Australian. But after Stoner’s departure, the Ducati team sank into the midfield of the MotoGP. The handling of the Ducati was too difficult. The question often arose as to whether it was unrideable. Even Valentino Rossi failed with the “red diva”.
The Dall’Igna era: innovation and success
The turning point came with the change of Gigi Dall’Igna. Under his leadership, Ducati experienced a renaissance. Ingenious innovations and maximum exploitation of the MotoGP regulations led to unprecedented success and made the Ducati Desmosedici the dominant motorcycle. More and more teams switched over and the “premier class” gradually turned red.
But doesn’t this enormous success and dominance also lead to boredom? Ducatisti would now vehemently deny this. Because the races are still exciting and the duels are heated. Only the MotoGP riders fight it out on the same equipment. So again, has it really become more boring?
Lack of variety
The fascination of racing and duels can hardly be denied and yet the appeal dwindles when the same Ducatis are always fighting for victory. The differences between the Ducatis are essentially limited to the year of manufacture. A few years ago, the field of riders and the battle for victory was more diverse. Today, the Reds dominate at will. Will the MotoGP degenerate into a Ducati world championship in the future? You could almost say yes. Ducati’s dominance is overwhelming and hardly gives other manufacturers a chance. However, this lack of competition harbors the danger of stagnation.
The vicious circle: success and inertia
Success can change our perspective and also make us lazy, as the past has shown us. Honda and Yamaha are two good examples. Just a few years ago, these two manufacturers dominated the MotoGP scene. But their success made them sluggish. They made the wrong decisions and focused on innovation too late. Now they are at the back of the pack and many teams have sought out other, better manufacturers for a partnership. Without real competition, there is always the danger of resting on one’s laurels and neglecting further development.
A lack of success in MotoGP is synonymous with a lack of profitability. If manufacturers are unsuccessful over long periods of time, they quickly consider pulling out. If this happens, MotoGP loses an important player. The gap that then arises is filled by a successful, established manufacturer and so diversity dwindles. Excessive dominance also makes the entire MotoGP uninteresting for new manufacturers, as it seems too difficult to enter. It’s a vicious circle.
I hope that the new rules, which will come into force in 2027, will reshuffle the cards and bring more diversity back into MotoGP. Not because of the excitement in the races, but so that MotoGP continues to showcase different manufacturers of motorcycles at the highest level.
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