The unprecedented effects of the coronavirus crisis on motorsport are beginning to show, with numerous teams and manufacturers in car and bike racing alike currently facing major difficulties.
Ducati’s Borgo Panigale base is situated right in the major breakout zone for COVID-19, and the lockdown in place in Italy means Ducati has shut its shop for now.
With production stopped on its road bike models right at the crucial sales point of the year, and with no money coming in from its racing exploits in MotoGP and World Superbikes, Ducati especially is feeling the squeeze.
In the latest Tank Slappers podcast, Motorsport.com’s Global MotoGP Editor Oriol Puigdemont joins Autosport’s International Editor Lewis Duncan to discuss Ducati’s woes.
They also look at how MotoGP may be impacted in the coming years in relation to other cost saving measures and a potential forced reduction in calendar sizes.