P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Reigning double champion Francesco Bagnaia may have been delighted with his initial taste of the 2024 Ducati, but Gigi Dall’Igna admits to feeling a mix of ‘adrenaline and anxiety’ during the first MotoGP tests of each year.
During the post-season testing at Valencia in November, Ducati focused on engine development, as it is required to finalize the design before the start of the world championship. Ducati Corse general manager Dall’Igna stated that they paid attention to details and particularly the engine, as it plays a crucial role in terms of performance, power output, and reliability. Bagnaia was pleased with the improvements made to the engine. However, the upcoming Sepang tests will be even more crucial, as the bikes used there will be the ones used for the start of the championship in Qatar. Despite their confidence, Dall’Igna admits to feeling tense during the testing sessions, as they are unsure about their competitors’ progress. Ducati will support eight riders this season, including Bagnaia and Bastianini, and will be participating in the Official Sepang test in February.
