Ducati against electronics reduction

Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali says the Bologna factory is against a campaign to get the influence of electronic rider aids significantly reduced in the MotoGP world championship.

One of the most vocal opponents of the current high level of electronics used in MotoGP is new Ducati recruit Valentino Rossi, who blames aids like traction control for producing a series of boring races in the 800cc four-stroke era.

But speaking at a packed press conference before the unveiling of Ducati’s new GP11 bike in Italy yesterday (Wednesday), Domenicali said the requirement for safety was essential.

And he said that development of electronics to filter down to production bikes was fundamental to al factories participating in MotoGP.

When asked whether Ducati would be unwilling to race in MotoGP if there was a significant reduction in electronics, Domenicali said: “Everyone working in motorcycle racing has passion about motorcycles, so we know rider opinion is very valuable and very important.

“We’ve been listening to this for a long time. On the other hand we need to consider the close relationship between racing and development of what we can offer to our fans and customers.

“There is one aspect about electronics and that is safety, which is dramatically important, both in racing and in production. In general in the motorcycle industry we have safety as a primary objective.

“As a company we work as hard as we can to improve the active safety of motorcycles and also safety is dramatically important in the racing environment.

“The organisers of the championship (Dorna) have done a lot of work on the circuits and all the companies working on apparel have done a lot of work on suits and helmets.

“But also on the motorcycles, electronic controls have improved the safety of motorcycles quite a lot. It’s very rare to see a high-side except when we have very dramatic conditions for the tyres, which is very difficult to predict.

“So I think the technical development has gone so far it would be impossible to be without electronics. I think it’s a little bit a part of the past to think of motorcycles completely free of any electronic control.

“I think it would be really nice as a passion, but we have to really consider this sport as a high level sport that has a meaning also for industry.

“I think when you say would Ducati lose interest, this idea is so much shared between all motorcycle manufacturers and the organisers that we wouldn’t even think this is a possibility for the future.”