DALL’IGNA SEES PERSONAL HISTORY IN DUCATI’S APRILIA TITLE FIGHT

With five rounds remaining in the 2026 MotoGP season, Ducati and Aprilia are locked in a close fight for both the riders’ and constructors’ championships. The riders’ contest is especially tight: Aprilia’s Jorge Martin leads Ducati’s Marc Marquez by just two points, while Marco Bezzecchi sits third, 46 points behind Martin. It is the narrowest gap between the top two at this stage of a season in championship history.

For Ducati general manager Gigi Dall’Igna, the contest has a personal dimension. He spent years at Aprilia before joining Ducati in 2013, and both of the riders now leading the challenge against his current team have previously ridden for him at Ducati.

Martin won the 2024 title with Pramac Ducati, but moved to Aprilia after Ducati chose Marquez for its factory seat. Bezzecchi, who had been with VR46, also joined Aprilia after a route into Ducati’s factory team was unavailable.

Asked about facing his former team and riders, Dall’Igna said: “At the end, it’s my past because of the brand. It’s my past because of the riders, because both of the Aprilia riders were my riders in the past.” He added that he had not given the connection much thought, but acknowledged it was an interesting question.

Dall’Igna said he still has many friends at Aprilia and added: “If someone has to beat us, I think it’s better that they are our friends.”

Aprilia enters the closing stretch with two riders among the top three, while Ducati’s realistic title hopes are concentrated on Marquez. Team orders are not currently on the table for Aprilia. Dall’Igna, however, said he would prefer to have several Ducati riders in contention rather than face the situation as it stands: “As many riders you have in front, the better it is. So, I would like to have more than one rider.”