The dream of six manufacturers with four bikes each has not yet become reality: Carmelo Ezpeleta is not worried about that, however
Ducati will equip a third of the field in the 2022 MotoGP season. In addition to their own factory team, the customer teams Pramac, Gresini and VR46 also rely on material from Bologna. This means that there will be eight Ducatis on the grid.
The opposition are alarmed and expect a difficult season, because due to the strong qualifying form and the resulting grid positions combined with the superior top speed of the Desmosedici, it should be difficult for Ducati’s challengers to fight their way to the top in the races.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta once had a vision that the six manufacturers involved in MotoGP would each equip one factory team and one customer team, creating a balance. But the fact that Ducati now has eight bikes in the field and Suzuki and Aprilia continue to field just two riders doesn’t seem to bother the CEO of MotoGP rights holder Dorna too much.
“I cannot hide the fact that it was my wish to have six manufacturers with four bikes each. But that is not the most important thing. It is more important that the private teams are happy and that they are in a position to develop “
“Honda, Yamaha and KTM were not able to deliver six bikes. Ducati, on the other hand, was able to make it happen,” Ezpeleta recognises. “The teams are free to decide and choose the option that is best for them. It is not the first time a manufacturer has supplied eight bikes: Ducati did it already. Yamaha did it in the past as well. “
Ezpeleta nevertheless expresses surprise as to why Aprilia continues to field only the two factory bikes. “Yes, I am a bit surprised because Aprilia made a very good offer. But in MotoGP, the teams are free to choose the bike they want to compete with,” said the Spaniard.
