Valentino Rossi’s Tenure with Ducati ‘Was a Great Disappointment’, Admits Claudio Domenicali…

Claudio Domenicali, the CEO of Ducati, has admitted that Valentino Rossi’s tenure with the Italian motorcycle manufacturer was a “great disappointment.” Rossi, one of the greatest riders in MotoGP history, joined Ducati in 2011 after a highly successful career with Yamaha. Ducati had high hopes that the combination of their powerful machines and Rossi’s skills would bring them success in the MotoGP championship, but things didn’t go as planned.

Rossi’s move to Ducati marked the end of a golden era at Yamaha, where he had won multiple world championships. His transition to Ducati, however, was plagued with challenges. The Ducati Desmosedici, despite its raw power, was notoriously difficult to handle, especially for Rossi, who struggled to adapt to the bike’s idiosyncrasies. Over the course of two seasons with the team, Rossi was unable to claim a single victory, which was a major disappointment considering his stature and track record.

Domenicali explained that while Ducati provided Rossi with top-level equipment and support, the bike simply didn’t suit his riding style. The Desmosedici’s characteristics were far removed from those of the Yamaha, leading to a difficult and frustrating period for both Rossi and the team. The gap between Rossi and his competitors, particularly the Yamaha and Honda riders, widened over time. While Rossi was able to achieve podium finishes in a few races, the elusive victory never materialized during his stint with Ducati, leading to what Domenicali described as a “disappointment.”

Despite the failure to win, Rossi’s time with Ducati also led to important lessons for the team. The feedback from such a legendary rider proved invaluable in understanding the deficiencies of the Desmosedici, which eventually helped Ducati refine their approach and develop a much more competitive bike. In fact, Ducati’s current success in MotoGP, with riders like Francesco Bagnaia, is in part due to the lessons learned during this period.

In the end, Rossi left Ducati in 2012 to return to Yamaha, and the team’s fortunes slowly improved after his departure. Domenicali’s reflection on Rossi’s time with Ducati serves as a reminder that not all collaborations lead to success, even when they involve such high-profile figures in the sport.