Gigi Dall’Igna on Aprilia: It’s better to be beaten by friends

Ahead of the final six MotoGP events of 2026, Ducati and Aprilia are level on exactly the same number of points (469) in the Constructors’ Championship. However, the two Italian manufacturers are not only battling it out for the manufacturers’ title this year; the two brands are also neck and neck in the Riders’ Championship. Aprilia’s star rider Jorge Martin (333) and Ducati rider Marc Marquez (331) are separated by just two points. After 16 Grands Prix, the premier class has never been this close.

Ducati has recently won four consecutive riders’ titles and six consecutive constructors’ titles. This year, further titles could be added to that tally. The chances look good, as champion Marquez is currently in excellent form. He has secured four one-two finishes in the last six Grands Prix.

How challenging is the 2026 MotoGP season compared to previous years? “Every championship is different, and this is possibly the most difficult,” said Ducati Corse CEO Gigi Dall’Igna, who, like Aprilia racing director Massimo Rivola, was invited to a special press conference on Thursday ahead of the Indonesian Grand Prix. “We’re very close to our rivals. Sure, we’ve won a few races at the recent events, but our rival is very fast. It won’t be easy to take the title.”

After the Mugello weekend, MM93 was 102 points behind the championship leader in the overall standings. At the time, the Spaniard said that he probably had no chance of winning the championship again this year. Did Ducati see it that way back then too? “At Mugello, our rivals were a long way ahead on points – it was difficult at the time to imagine winning the title again by the end of the season,” Dall’Igna had to admit. “But our job is to believe in it and drive everyone forward. Marc is the best at that! He pushed us enormously, and he believed in it. Now here we are!”

Dall’Igna: “Jorge is a rider who doesn’t usually make any major mistakes towards the end of the season”

Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi are both former Ducati riders – so Dall’Igna knows the competition very well. “Jorge is a rider who doesn’t usually make any major mistakes at the end of the season – that’s an advantage for him,” the engineer conceded. “But Marc is also used to fighting for the championship. He knows what needs to be done.”

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Gigi Dall’Igna is also very familiar with Aprilia from his past. The Italian worked for the Noale-based manufacturer for 20 years before moving to Ducati in 2013. An Italian journalist asked him at the press conference how it felt to be competing against his past? “That’s true! It is my past, both in terms of the brand and the riders. I don’t think about it much, but it’s certainly an interesting question,” replied the 60-year-old. “I have lots of friends at Aprilia, and if anyone is going to beat us, it’s better that it’s friends.” Dall’Igna then looked over at Rivola – and they both had a laugh.