Honda MotoGP bosses took surprising stance on signing Luigi Dall’Igna from Ducati

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Honda have bolstered their behind-the-scenes team as they look to escape their MotoGP slump. The most successful team on the grid finished bottom of the championship last year.

While they have retained the same rider line-up at the factory squad and kept Johann Zarco at LCR alongside rookie Somkiat Chantra, they’ve made a headline acquisition off the track. Technical director Romano Albesiano joins from Aprilia.

Test rider Stefan Bradl says Honda have sent a ‘clear message’ to their rivals by signing Albesiano. It’s the first time they’ve hired a non-Japanese engineer for this role.

Albesiano replaced Luigi Dall’Igna at Aprilia and has helped the factory team become race-winners in the premier class. Honda also held an interest in his predecessor.

Dall’Igna has been the general manager at Ducati since 2014, instrumental in their ascent to dominance. Like Albesiano, he comes from an engineering background.

Elsewhere, Ducati have added the retiring Aleix Espargaro and Takaaki Nakagami to their test line-up. Espargaro will reunite with Albesiano, his former colleague at Aprilia.

Honda’s Japanese hierarchy were reluctant to make a move for Luigi Dall’Igna

Writing in a season preview for MotoMatters, journalist David Emmett addressed the failure of Honda’s Dall’Igna move. He could have been the centrepiece of a senior management ‘reshuffle’.

However, Emmett’s ‘understanding’ is that Honda’s Japanese bosses were ‘reluctant’ to hire Dall’Igna. This is a surprise given his track record at Ducati.

The Bologna squad have won five constructors’ championships in a row, and are poised to extend that streak in 2025. They have ushered in an era of European domination.

Still, it was Albesiano who generated consensus. The swoop was successful this time, and it may point to a cultural shift at a team who have won 25 titles.

Luigi Dall’Igna’s eye-catching response to Adrian Newey comparisons at Ducati MotoGP team

Intriguingly, in a recent interview, Dall’Igna admitted he was unpopular in the MotoGP paddock. This may be because he’s seen as a symbol of Ducati’s dominance.

His team have been the pioneers of the series’ decisive innovations in recent years. This includes the controversial ride-height device, which will be banned for 2027.

Dall’Igna has been called the Adrian Newey of MotoGP, but he rejects that comparison. He pointed out that, as the team boss, he has far more responsibilities than the Aston Martin F1 designer.

It seems Honda are content with Alberto Puig for the moment, having poached Albesiano to work under him. They will formally unveil their 2025 bike on 1 February.