Ducati: Mastering Pirelli rubber trumps new rules as key to 2027 MotoGP success

Ducati’s Gigi Dall’Igna believes mastering the new Pirelli rubber will be more important for MotoGP success in 2027 than any of the new regulations that year.

Headlining the new ruleset in 2027 is a reduction of engine capacity from 1000cc to 850cc, restrictions on aerodynamics and the elimination of ride height and holeshot devices.

Dall’Igna, the engineering mind behind much of Ducati’s recent success, made the comments after suggesting that the new rules for 2027 were inspired by rivals hoping to close the gap to the Bologna manufacturer. The marque is about to seal a fourth consecutive riders’ championship thanks to Marc Marquez, and has already wrapped up its sixth straight constructors' title.

“In the end, sometimes the rule changes, you make some rule changes not because it’s better for the championship, but because the other competitors want to go in this direction. Because they think that [they can] reduce the gap between them and somebody else," Dall’Igna said. 

Pirelli area

Photo by: Andreas Beil

But the general manager of MotoGP’s current dominant marque does not believe that the rule change itself provides the real opportunity. He is eyeing the switch of tyre supplier from Michelin to Pirelli as decisive for any teams wanting to hit the ground running.

“Honestly speaking, the most important change will not be the rule change, but it will be the tyre change,” said Dall’Igna.

“We have a different tyre supplier starting from 2027 and, for sure, this could make a big step in the overall performance. So, this is, in my opinion, the key that we have to pay attention to.

“[To win in 2027] you have to understand what that tyre needs in order to go fast.”

Initial MotoGP testing on Pirelli rubber has so far been complicated by disagreements around financing the test sessions, as well as the fact that the 2027 machinery is not yet ready to run. The first Pirelli tyre test in currently scheduled for Tuesday after the San Marino GP, using modified 2025 bikes.