Ducati Boss Makes Sure Not To Do Team Order
JAKARTA Ducati Sports Director Paolo Ciabatti has confirmed that he will not carry out a team order to smooth Francesco Bagnaia's journey to lift the 2023 MotoGP title.
Currently Bagnaia, who rides a Ducati manufacturer's motorbike, occupies the top position of the standings with a collection of 319 points. He was grabbed by Ducati satellite racer Jorge Martin who collected 316 points.
In such a situation, Ducati is predicted to be able to carry out a team order asking Jorge to give in in order to smooth Bagnaia's path. However, this possibility was denied by Cabiatti.
"No. There is no team order. I mean this is very simple. I try to explain to people that we don't like this situation," he said.
The very thin distance between Bagnaia and Jorge Martin made the fight for the title still fierce in the rest of the series this season. Moreover, Marco Bezzecki who trailed in third place had a difference of points of 54 and 51 each from the two drivers in front of him.
Cabiatti mengatakan, situasi seperti ini sudah menjadi risiko yang harus dijalani tim. Karena itu, tim hanya perlu terus bekerja dan membiarkan pebalap mereka bersaing adil hingga akhir musim.
"This is a risk we take with pleasure. We are happy to run it," he said.
"I mean, as I said, easy. If you don't want competition then you don't have to give the same material. So, if you give the same material, it means you are ready to accept that one rider may be better than the other," he added.
Previously, Jorge Martin had emphasized that if there was a team order, he insisted he would not heed it.
"Last season there was indeed a team order. They told us we had to be careful, that we shouldn't overtake him... Since the start of the season we have been very careful with him, and in the end this affects you in the race," Jorge said.
"This season we did not receive any orders. And even if Ducati says something to me, I don't want to hear it," he added.
Bagnaia and Jorge Martin's efforts to be the best will continue this weekend when they compete at the Mandalika Circuit, Sunday, October 15.