GIGI DALL’IGNA SAYS DUCATI USES SIMULATION AND AI TO GET THE MOST FROM EVERY DETAIL

Ducati’s racing chief Luigi “Gigi” Dall’Igna has described how MotoGP’s modern technical development is increasingly driven by data, simulation and the careful choice of tools to extract performance down to fractions of a second. Speaking to MCNews, the Ducati motorsport boss explained that the sport’s complexity has grown dramatically since the four-stroke era began in 2002—not only in terms of what riders do on track, but in the sheer volume of information teams must capture, interpret and turn into measurable gains.

According to Dall’Igna, the starting point is an enormous stream of inputs: sensor data from the motorcycles, aerodynamic airflow and pressure figures measured in a wind tunnel, and tyre temperatures tracked at different moments during a race and across various corners. “Simulationen gehören inzwischen standardmäßig zum Entwicklungsprozess,” he said, adding that Ducati’s development tools have improved significantly over the last decade. He also stressed that while there are still areas where the team lacks complete understanding, the balance of strengths allows them to work with high precision in other parts of the project. “There are still areas where we’re missing some things. For that, we can work very precisely in other areas and get good results,” Dall’Igna said.

The Ducati chief framed the relationship between artificial intelligence and physical modelling as complementary rather than competitive. He said Ducati uses AI as one tool among several, running in parallel with traditional approaches. “There are areas of the bike that we can understand better with AI tools than with physical simulations,” he explained. “In other areas, the physical model has the advantage.” That means deciding which tasks are best handled by which method becomes an organisational challenge as much as a technical one.

Dall’Igna also highlighted Ducati’s partnership with Lenovo, which he said is more than just a sponsor. Working with the technology company, Ducati aims not only to prepare the machine for immediate competition but also to continue developing it. He pointed to aerodynamic development as an example of the breadth of work involved: “Different fairings, different winglets, various details—everything that makes the bike faster,” he said.

Tyre management is another major focus. Dall’Igna said that more than 20 engineers are dedicated to tyre work during a race weekend, both at the circuit and in Bologna. He singled out tyre pressure as a key variable that changes throughout a race rather than remaining fixed. “We invest a lot of work in the use of the tyres. For example, in determining the right air pressure for the race start so that by the end of the race it is still within the allowed range,” he said.

Ultimately, Dall’Igna described the purpose of all this technical and personnel effort as a single objective: to “get the maximum out of” every available option.