After the disaster on Friday, with the first day of collective tests in Mandalika conditioned by the really dirty track, the situation gradually improved over the three days, even if the MotoGP riders made an important recommendation in view of when they will have to return here in just over a month for the second race of the season.
During yesterday’s meeting of the Safety Commission, they asked for the Indonesian track to be cleaned properly, because at the moment it is practically impossible to be too close to another bike, due to the stones being raised and fired like bullets. A situation that would be even more dangerous in a race situation, with all the bikes close together.
He knows it well Pecco Bagnaiawho is among those who raised the alarm, having been hit in the arm yesterday and still bearing the clearly visible signs, as he showed during the virtual meeting with the media at the end of the day.
“In the Safety Commission we have considered the fact that there will be a lot of us running on the track, so the asphalt will clean up more. The problem is the stones that hit you when you are turning. For example, yesterday I got one on my arm. and I have a pretty obvious mark (he shows the bruise on his left arm). It’s really like a bullet and I don’t know what would have happened if it had hit my neck, so let’s just say it’s not the best, “Bagnaia said.
“If you are first in the race, you are calm enough that no one can get close, because the stones you throw are so many, so it is impossible to remain attached to someone. In view of a race, if you are in the second group, the first laps of the race can be really dangerous, because the trajectory to follow is very narrow. For example, if this stone that hit me had gone to the radiator, it would have broken it. But they reassured us that they will clean the track and that they will make sure it is perfect “, he added.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team with a bruise
MotoGP Mandalika test: Bagnaia’s balance is positive
The Ducati rider also took stock of the work he completed in these three days in Indonesia. If yesterday he said he had discovered only 80% of the potential of the new GP22, today he is convinced that he has taken another step towards full understanding.
“Let’s say that we found a good 5% even today, so it is already better. Surely being a new bike, five days of testing are not enough to fully understand it. In addition, we threw away the first one here in Indonesia due to the conditions of the bike. track. We are a bit behind on this, but it’s not like we’re lapping two seconds slower. In my opinion, the margin is there, because this bike can go two or three tenths per lap faster. “
“We are coming to understand how to do it, also because between yesterday and today I improved a lot in terms of pace and the track was quite similar. In fact, maybe it was even a bit slower, because it is very hot and it was almost 15 degrees. difference on the asphalt, so we are all happy with the work we are doing. Our pace is constant and we decided to do the race simulation with the medium tire, which was not the best option, but the times were not bad . I think we have found a compromise that I like, so that in Qatar we can start the season well. “
With regard to the fastest, Bagnaia did not unbalance, emphasizing that he used a different tire from the others (the average) for the race simulation, so for the moment he cannot make a direct comparison with the competition.
“Today it is difficult to say who is the fastest, because the medium tire was not the most suitable, but the soft tire they will wear for the race weekend will not be the same as in the test. Only me, Marini and Bezzecchi did the race simulation. with the average and it was not easy, because it slipped a lot. The soft was certainly better and the others all used this. Today, however, it was important to ride a lot with the average to understand the tire, to understand the conditions. A little bit is missing on the time attack, but I think we are in good shape on the race pace “.
The World Championship will start on 6 March in Losail and in free practice there will still be work to try to take a little step forward, especially as regards the delivery of power, which at this moment is perhaps the weak point compared to the GP21.
“I hope that when the weekend starts in Qatar the conditions are good, because normally when we start testing there is always a lot of sand on the track, so the first laps are always difficult. But before we do the other categories, so I think it will be. ok and I hope that free practice will help us to find a little more on the new bike, which has maintained the strengths of last year, so the braking, the insertion and the acceleration. Even if we still have to work a bit on this point, because the delivery is not yet at the level of last year, even if day by day we are getting closer. But I am convinced that this bike has more potential than that of 2021 “, he concluded.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: MotoGP
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