The predictions for the 2022 season see him among the favorites, if not the absolute favorite, but the first day of the MotoGP collective tests in Sepang ended in the rear for Francesco Bagnaia. The Ducati rider did not go beyond the 19th position, more than 1 “6 behind the best time of Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia, but this does not seem to worry him in the least.
The vice-world champion, in fact, explained that today’s goal was only to collect data on the new bike and in particular to adapt the electronics to the new engine, and all this he succeeded in showing him an interesting step with the used tires.
The fact that the old Desmosedici GP21 was therefore much faster, with Enea Bastianini capable of setting the fourth fastest time, is not a concern. Indeed, it is something that the Piedmontese driver almost took for granted.
“Enea was very good today, but we know perfectly well that this is a bike capable of winning races and he immediately found himself well. Honestly, being the first day of testing, I’m not even remotely interested in looking at the rankings. It is important to acquire data, to make laps and to try to understand the various things, because the engine is new, but the electronics are the same as before, so we have to make sure that they work together a little better and we are concentrating on this ” said Bagnaia at the end of a day in which he completed 61 laps.
“Surely today we only made some steps forward, especially in the last two runs of the day: despite having heavily used tires, we were able to lap on 2’00” 5, which is not bad. With the old bike we would have gone faster, there’s no doubt about that, but right now we have to focus on other things that have priority, and in any case I’m happy with how the day ended, “he added.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
The great one-two placed by Aprilia does not seem to have surprised him: “I had no doubts about the Aprilia, because here in Malaysia they are always very fast, but above all today was the fifth day of testing for them, because they also did a day alone after the three of the shakedown. It was pretty obvious that they were already in place and fast “.
Today he didn’t observe the competition too much, even if a little hint of Honda did: “I didn’t see anyone on the track, also because when I had someone close I slowed down to be alone. But I saw the steps and in the end we are in good shape. , but it is something that interests me little. What is certain is that Honda has made a completely new bike and it is the biggest difference we see with us. “
For the moment, the pressure of being one of the favorites is not making itself felt: “Being just a test, you don’t feel that much. We all know that we are strong, that the potential is very high. Many believe in the fact that I he can stay ahead and I believe in it too, but I think I will hear this more maybe in Qatar. “
“For now I am focused on the preparation and on the new bike to be developed, to make it more competitive than the previous one, so I don’t think I have to think about anything else. Obviously I’m happy, because I worked hard to be a candidate for the title, so I’ll try to enjoy it. more possible, because it doesn’t happen to everyone “, he concluded.
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