DALL’IGNA REJECTS ‘GENIUS’ LABEL AFTER MILLER’S PRAISE

Luigi Dall’Igna has reached a landmark with Ducati, earning his 100th MotoGP victory with the team at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Marc Marquez took the win. Since joining the Borgo Panigale outfit in 2013, the engineer has helped turn it into a dominant force. Ducati had not won a riders’ title since Casey Stoner’s 2007 championship before Pecco Bagnaia claimed the crown in 2022 and 2023, followed by Marquez in 2025.

Former and current riders have credited Dall’Igna’s technical focus and leadership. Jorge Lorenzo described him as serious and direct: “He’ll tell you straight to your face what he really thinks.” Marquez highlighted his attention to detail, saying Dall’Igna is “very focused on the bike, on small details and how to make the most of everything.”

Jack Miller, who rode for Ducati’s factory team in 2021 and 2022, also praised the Italian. Miller won three races and scored 12 podiums during those seasons, and called Dall’Igna “a very clear definition of a genius.” Lorenzo has used the same description, calling him “probably one of the best in the history of the motorcycle world.” Bagnaia and Alex Marquez have also referred to Dall’Igna as a genius.

But Dall’Igna does not share that assessment. Responding to the riders’ comments in a MotoGP video, he said: “They’re all too kind, I have to say. I’ve heard the word ‘genius’ way too often. I don’t think I’m a genius.”

Instead, he pointed to his approach to working with people. “I certainly think I have a fairly strong leadership style,” he said, explaining that he can make himself understood, encourage people to talk and work together, and guide them towards a shared goal along a path he believes is right.