The mutation of the Ducati seems to have really ended. The most indomitable beast on the grid has probably become the most versatile bike in the entire MotoGP scene. The first day of practice at the German Grand Prix probably swept away any doubts in this sense, because there are five Desmosedici GPs in the top six positions, on a curvy track and without the shadow of a straight line on which to exploit the power. of the engine.
Last year there were already encouraging signs in this sense, but Pecco Bagnaia’s performance was conditioned by a poor qualifying, which forced him to start from 16th place. Today, however, the vice-world champion had a practically perfect Friday, in which he seemed to be the point of reference both in the time attack, complete with a track record taken away at the “Sachsenking” Marc Marquez, and in terms of pace.
“I am very happy, because it had been a long time since I could not be so incisive on Friday. It has been the best in a long time: I have been comfortable since I entered the track this morning. We have not touched anything at all at the level of setting, just a very small thing at the rear, but I don’t want to touch anything anymore, because everything is working fine, “said Bagnaia.
“We tested the various tires both front and rear and tomorrow we will certainly have to try to do more laps with the medium tire at the rear. For the moment I feel good and it was almost an unexpected start here at Sachsenring, even though I knew I would be able to do it. starting well with the potential we showed last year in the race, “he added.
The toughest opponents seem to be the usual ones, even if there are several Ducatis to shield him before the fourth time of Aleix Espargaro’s Aprilia and Fabio Quartararo’s seventh of Yamaha.
“Espargaro and Quartararo seem the most dangerous, even if Aleix then raises his times quite a lot. Fabio, on the other hand, struggles more with the new tire, but then remains very constant. But also Marini and Vinales did well. It is always difficult to understand the most important ones. fast on Fridays, but at the moment they seem to me to be the most constant “.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
With so many Borgo Panigale bikes up front, this time there seems to be a really good opportunity to try to recover heavy points from Quartararo, who came to Germany with the victory of Barcelona and a margin of 66 points against him. On this point, in fact, Pecco was very cautious.
“First I have to get in front of him and it won’t be easy. But we will try, because the way the weekend started we are in quite good shape. We will have to see if we will take another step forward or if the others will come closer. It seems that tomorrow and Sunday he will do it. much warmer, but usually not a big deal for us. “
Being so competitive on a track that has historically always been a black beast for the men in Red then only gives further value to the turning point in the working methodology that Bagnaia, but also Jack Miller, have brought since they landed in the garage of the official team.
“I was reflecting even earlier on the enormous work that Jack and I have done since we joined the factory team. Changing the methodology and trying to go a bit in another direction has led us to be fast even on very guided tracks. This year’s fairing was the last step that helped us in this and in fact there are many Ducatis in front of us. Even if we lose a bit of top speed, I feel better in terms of riding. “
“On this track there are all the credentials to do well, because I feel good when there is a lot of mileage to do and I manage not to heat up the rear tire too much. These are things that allow you to be fast here”, Pecco added, before returning to the speeches already addressed yesterday and issuing a warning to those who will take Miller’s place in 2023, whether it is Enea Bastianini or Jorge Martin.
“The work I do with Jack is also very important for the development of our bike and has led to a lot of progress and steps forward. For this reason I hope that those who come next year can understand this immediately instead of waging an internal war that does not it’s useless. The war is fought in competition on Sundays “.
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