Unity on cost cuts crucial for MotoGP future

Ducati race boss Claudio Domenicali reckons unity between the major factories will help MotoGP successfully ride the current global economic storm.

Domenicali said an agreement for extending engine life was close to being agreed by the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association.

“The goal is very clear. We have a state of recession so we must have very strict costs control to cut down costs. It is easier to find the solution if we can all find an agreement together as manufacturers.

“We are close to an agreement on increasing the life of the engine. If one answer is to go to 17,000rpm or changing to other components then this will be left to decisions taken by each manufacturer.

“The important thing is we guarantee the duration of the engine is going to be much longer. Right now it is free and you can change an engine when you want. This solution should allow us to cut down on the costs for the engine.”

Domenicali said the current tune on Ducati’s GP9 meant it needed changing between every 600 and 800ks.

He said the minimum requirement under radical cost cutting plans to protect MotoGP must see that figure at least doubled.

“Today engine life depends on each manufacturer. Some engines might only do 400ks but on average we do between 600 and 800ks with our engine.

“But the goal is to double that number, “said Domenicali, who said Ducati was looking to overhaul the running costs its MotoGP effort, which is believed to swallow up a massive 75 per cent of Ducati Corse’s total budget.

“We are going to decrease the management costs of the team. For us that means cutting down costs for team management to increasing development costs.

“We will shift the money taken away from the team to research. If the satellite teams decreases its costs then it maybe easier to have more bikes on the track.

“The goal is to reduce the management costs, so like the number of engines used, how many bikes are needed and the spare parts.”