The WorldSBK championship has been set ablaze with Ducati’s dominance, evoking a fiery response from the reigning WorldSBK champion, Toprak Razgatlioglu. After a challenging start to the season in Phillip Island, Razgatlioglu found himself in the eighth position in the standings with a mere 20 points, gained from his second-place finish in Race 1. This led to a disgruntled Razgatlioglu dubbing the series a “Ducati Cup,” following Italian manufacturer Nicolo Bulega’s impressive treble, with the top five riders all riding Panigale machinery.
However, Ducati’s top brass was quick to respond to Razgatlioglu’s claim. Ducati’s chief, Gigi Dall’Igna, expressed his respect for Razgatlioglu, citing his astonishing run of 13 consecutive wins last season. However, Dall’Igna was quick to point out that last year’s championship could have easily been called a “BMW Cup” due to Razgatlioglu’s dominance. He underlined the changing dynamics of racing and dismissed the notion of a “Ducati Cup,” instead attributing the success to their extraordinary roster of riders.
Adding to Dall’Igna’s perspective was two-time WorldSBK champion Alvaro Bautista, who wholeheartedly disagreed with Razgatlioglu’s viewpoint. Bautista credited the success to a potent combination of the powerful V4 and Ducati’s formidable rider lineup. Talking to BikeSportNews, Bautista asserted, “Although there were six Ducatis, you also have to take into account which riders were riding the Ducati.”
He went on to detail the notable achievements of each Ducati rider, including Nicolo Bulega, Supersport World Champion and 2024 World Championship runner-up, Andrea Iannone, who boasts numerous Moto2 victories and a MotoGP win, as well as Danilo Petrucci. Not forgetting himself, a 125cc World Champion and two-time Superbike Champion. Bautista emphasized that it wasn’t just the bike, but the caliber of the riders that were making a difference.
Bautista also praised Ducati for its continuous efforts in improving their motorcycles and drew attention to the significance of having a skilled racing driver. He threw a gauntlet down to other manufacturers, stating, “It can’t be our problem if other manufacturers don’t invest in the best riders.”
Razgatlioglu’s threat to quit WorldSBK over Ducati’s domination in Australia has certainly stirred the pot and triggered a robust reaction from Ducati. As the championship proceeds, it remains to be seen if Razgatlioglu will follow through on his threat or if other manufacturers will rise to Bautista’s challenge.
