Gigi Dall'Igna, General Manager of Ducati Corse, stated that the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) is a valid stepping stone to MotoGP and that this route could be followed in the future. The Italian executive's remarks once again highlighted the increasing importance of the bridge between the two championships.
A transition model from WorldSBK to MotoGP.
Dall'Igna emphasized that Ducati could continue to consider WorldSBK as a resource in its future MotoGP lineup planning. According to the general manager, this route stands out as the 'right way' to prepare young and developing riders for the highest level. The technical knowledge and racing experience gained from racing on production bikes is thought to facilitate adaptation to MotoGP prototype machines.
In this context Iker Lecuona found the balance by returning to WorldSBK after his MotoGP experience., This event stands out as a significant example that highlighted the different dimensions of the relationship between the two championships.
The Toprak Razgatlıoğlu case is on the agenda.
Dall'Igna's comments come at a time when the performance of riders transitioning from WorldSBK to MotoGP is being scrutinized. The adaptation process of experienced riders who have won multiple championships plays a decisive role in such assessments. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu's best MotoGP result of his career was achieved in Hungary., This was a concrete demonstration that pilots from WorldSBK can compete in the highest category as well.
Ducati's adoption of this approach reveals that it positions its WorldSBK lineup not only as a production-based racing system but also as a strategic platform to nurture a long-term MotoGP rider pool. Dall'Igna's signals suggest that the Italian brand will continue to closely monitor WorldSBK circuits for new recruits in the future.