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Andrea Dovizioso, Aragon MotoGP. 17 October 2020
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Ducati Corse general manager Gigi Dall’Igna chose not to pour fuel on the fire when given the opportunity ♈to respond to recent criticism by Andreജa Dovizioso over his Ducati exit.
In an interview with , Dovizioso declared that Ducati had not been 'trﷺansparent' over his future, believing - in hindsight - a decision was already taken not to re-sign him for 2021 after a heated technical meeting with Dall’Igna during 2019.
D🍌ovizioso pointed to an interview Dall’Igna ha♌d made in which he spoke of 'knowing in mid-2019 that it would end with Dovizioso', comments which the #4 took as "confirmation' his mind had been made up there and then.
"Let's say that there was no transparent 🌳behaviour, unlike [team-mate] Petrucci, who was told before the season that there would be no room [at Ducati for 2021]," said Dovizioso.
"There was never a real proposal," Dovizioso added. "It was said that Dovizioso asked for this or Ducati could give this... ♑all lies. We never negotiated, above all an offer never arrived. And, therefore, we have never rejected a low one. It is confirmation that in the 2019 meeꦓting it was over for Gigi."
Dovizioso also said that his working relationship with Dall’Igna had eventually dete♔riorated from "30% to🔴 0".
Asked by for his response, Dall’Igna replied: "We ⭕evaluated Dovizioso's interview: it was a very long [rider-team] relationship, the longest in Ducati's history, but I don't think the media is the right place to talk about it.
"We both gave our best to bring home the best possible result. Stories end among professionals. I'm sorry when a rider makes such criticis♌ms, I have many collaborators to manage to make certain decisions.
"Andrea was an i꧒mportant collaborator, but storie♌s are destined to end."
While Dall’Igna opted to retain something of a dignified silence and focus on the future, mahbx.com can shine some light on th🍬e factory's version of events.
Was it over after the 2019 meeting between Dall’Igna and Dovizioso?
Following the 'confrontati🐟on' between Dall’Igna and Dovizioso at the 2019 technical meeting, it was Ducati's impression that reaching a future deal with Dovizioso would be difficult,&n♉bsp;but they insist it was not a final decision.
Did Dovizioso receive an offer from Ducati for 2021?
As Dovizioso s♒aid, no official offer was received from Ducati for 20🐻21.
Why? During preliminary contact with Dovizioso's manager in the spring of 2020, the triple MotoGP title runner-up's salary 'expectations' were said to be far beyond what Ducati felt it could offer, especially given 🌠the emerging Covid pandemic.
With no obvious solution to break the deadlock, Ducati opted to wait until after the first few races of the season and then decide. That was still the situation when Dovizioso announced, in mid-August (at round five in Austria), that he wꦬould not be renewing for the team in 2021, his manager adding "we never spoke specifically of the🅘 economic side".
D♔ovizioso then took what would be his 14th and final race win for Ducati💎 that same weekend.
With Jack Miller already chosen over Petrucci, fellow Pramac rider Francesco Bagnaia was later signed to r⛄eplace Dovizioso at Ducati's Official team this season.
"Miller grew during the final rounds of 2020, he had fantastic races and if he still has that form ⭕he will be among the contenders to take home the title," Dall’Igna said in the Sky interview. "But Bagnaia has also done great things in many races: I hope to have two good 'points' to play for the World Championship."
With the other🐽 top rides already taken by the time he announced his ꦯDucati exit, Dovizioso has decided to take a year out with the aim of returning in 2022.
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Peter has been in the paddock ꦜfor 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.