Ducati “surprised” by VR46 claims over Francesco…

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi is “surprised” by Uccio Salucci’s comments about Francesco Bagnaia’s Misano test, as the factory team continues to insist on a vague line about the Italian having ridden a VR46 GP24 that day.

The test preceded a return to form for Bagnaia, who dominated the subsequent round in Japan. But if Bagnaia did indeed borrow Franco Morbidelli’s GP24 at Misano, the factory squad still does not want this to be said out loud in such terms – despite what Salucci said earlier today.

“We have the opportunity to make several changes to the bike, so using parts that have already been used is normal,” Tardozzi said in response to the remarks. “I was very surprised by Uccio’s statement.

“At the moment, there are some differences, but important things like the engine and chassis are the same. Every official rider has the opportunity to put all the available parts on the bike. The rider decides on the mix to find his confidence.

“Pecco, Marc [Marquez] and Diggia [Fabio Di Giannantonio] all have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of parts that can go on the bike, then it’s up to the rider to put it together in the best way.”

VR46, meanwhile, doubled down after Salucci’s comments, with team manager Pablo Nieto telling DAZN why Bagnaia had tested Morbidelli’s machine.

“Because [a test day is] when you have a little more time to do testing and so on. At the end of the day, we’re a family, so why not help Pecco?”

Davide Tardozzi, Team Manager Ducati (Photo by: Andreas Solaro / AFP via Getty Images)

And while the factory line remains that there is almost no difference between the GP24 and GP25 anyway, Nieto offered a different perspective.

Asked whether Morbidelli's GP24 was different from Bagnaia's GP25, he said: “It's different. The chassis, swingarm and electronics are different. Obviously, the fairings are different too, which is more visual. And more internal things. It may not seem like it, but there are always small differences.

“The GP24 and GP25 engines are very similar, but they are not the same. Morbidelli's GP24 is a slightly different GP24. And you would have to ask Ducati about the GP24 that Bagnaia is riding now, I'm not 100% sure about the bike he is riding now.”

Nieto did say, however, that a glance at Bagnaia’s bike could tell its own story.

“When you look at the fairings, you realise that [Bagnaia's bike] is a bit like the GP24, but in the end, it's all so minimal that it's hard to say one thing or the other.”

Morbidelli himself also revealed after Friday's action that Bagnaia had tried his bike at the Misano test.

"We were asked to do that by Ducati and we gave everything, our means and our support to the factory in the best way we could and that's what we did," he said.

In keeping with the two different communication strategies around the issue, Bagnaia would not comment on the story in his Friday afternoon media briefing.