The advantages for the struggling Honda and Yamaha? Ducati boss warns of unfair exploitation

For decades, the MotoGP series has been dominated by Japanese brands, namely Honda and Yamaha. But for the last three years, Ducati has ruled the championship. The Honda and Yamaha machines, on the other hand, are having a dark time. Series promoter Dorna is analysing how to get these factories back on the winning track. One of these options is to modify the regulations within the concessions to ensure that all participants are on an equal footing. However, the head of the currently dominant Ducati, Gigi Dall’Igna, is not a fan of sudden rule changes to cheaply help teams in dire straits.

Italian Ducati is clearly crushing its rivals and heading for its fourth consecutive constructors’ title. The last victory by another motorcycle can be found as far back as the sprint at the Spanish VC in April. On the other hand, the traditional Honda and Yamaha stables are consistently best in the middle of the field.

The Japanese track in MotoGP is undergoing a huge crisis. After Suzuki’s shock exit from the series, there is a possibility that Honda and Yamaha could soon emulate it.

As a result, MotoGP TV rights owner Dorna, in conjunction with the International Motorcycle Federation (FIM), is considering steps to help these factories become competitive again.

The current balance of the grid can be thanked to concessions, or technical advantages for slower stables, first introduced in 2012. All European factories – Ducati, Aprilia and KTM – have gone through these concessions in the past decade.

Thanks to them, they can now build machines capable of winning races in MotoGP. But it has been a long process of gradual development and slow growth.

This is something that Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna is aware of, who in an interview with Spanish news site AS.com pointed out that MotoGP operates on a meritocracy.

“It’s right to help teams in crisis, but it has to be fair. I agree that everyone needs to be able to fight for the top positions. But the best have to win because it’s a sport and that’s how sport works.”

Dall’Igna then did not completely dismiss the possibility of some special help for Honda and Yamaha, but explained that such help must not have consequences for the stables that have gone through their own crises under clearly defined rules.

“It was very difficult to get to where we are now. We can’t lose it all because of possible concessions that would be too favourable to others,” he added.

Sources: MotoGP, AS.com, Crash.net