DALL’IGNA SAYS DUCATI FELL SHORT IN SPIELBERG

Ducati arrived at the Red Bull Ring with a formidable record, having won ten Grands Prix there since MotoGP returned to Spielberg in 2016. But this time the Austrian venue belonged to KTM: Pedro Acosta claimed his first premier-class victory, while Aprilia riders Jorge Martin, Marco Bezzecchi and Ai Ogura finished second, third and fourth. Marc Marquez was the leading Ducati rider, in fifth, as the manufacturer’s usual advantage at the circuit disappeared.

Ducati Corse chief executive Gigi Dall’Igna congratulated KTM and Acosta, describing the championship as “absolutely unpredictable” and a season in which little could be taken for granted. Each Grand Prix, he said, seemed to tell a new story, often contradicting the one before it. Ducati had expected to be among the leading contenders at a track where it had traditionally excelled, but instead struggled. Dall’Igna called KTM’s win long-awaited and thoroughly deserved, adding that it was difficult not to be moved by the achievement and the circumstances in which it came.

Marquez had taken second in Saturday’s sprint and fifth in Sunday’s race, leaving him 12 points behind Martin in the championship standings. Dall’Igna praised the Spaniard’s solid performance despite technical problems that affected his race. Ducati had hoped for more after Saturday morning’s practice, he said, but the sprint had already shown that the weekend would be difficult.

In the Grand Prix, an early problem sent Marquez off track and dropped him to the back of the field, forcing him into an unexpected recovery ride. Dall’Igna said Marquez had the pace to match the fastest riders, making the lost opportunity particularly frustrating. Fifth place was the best Ducati could manage in what he described as a “lacklustre performance” from all the team’s bikes—especially disappointing at a circuit where Ducati had previously dominated. He stressed that persistence and concentration remain vital: even when a podium is out of reach, riders must keep fighting for points that can prove valuable in the context of how they were earned.

There was encouragement for Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia, who finished sixth in the sprint and seventh in the Grand Prix after finding a better feeling with his Desmosedici. Dall’Igna called seventh a good result built on perseverance and pride, and said Bagnaia had worked well throughout the weekend, marking a change of direction after recent races. The Italian, a world champion, deserved more, he added, but the important thing was to take a first step, with further progress expected in the races ahead.