Pecco Bagnaia: “New teammate will understand” / MotoGP

After second place in qualifying, Ducati factory rider Pecco Bagnaia is cautiously optimistic for the MotoGP race in Montmeló. He also expressed a wish to his future teammates.

In his tenth year at the World Championship, Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia is still waiting for his first top 5 result at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. His previous best is a sixth place finish in 2020. With the second starting place the 25-year-old Italian is now in a good position to change that.

“I’m very happy, we did a good job all weekend. FP4 gave me the confidence to take a step up in the hunt for times. We changed the set-up a bit for the last run and that made me feel better,” said the Ducati star in Montmeló on Saturday.

“It was very difficult to drive a perfect lap in qualifying. It was easy to make small mistakes that cost tenths. Because with these grip conditions, you can lose a lot on this track if you lose a bit in acceleration,” Pecco pointed out. “I was very close to another pole position. Aleix is pretty strong this weekend though – he’s been that way on the other weekends, but he’s even more so here.”

The big question now is: Can the Aprilia factory driver be beaten at his home track in the 24-lap race? “I don’t know how to beat him,” Bagnaia said. “But the key will be to be smart with the rear tire in the race. You can be fast in the first laps, but you also have to be consistent to the end. If you push at the beginning, you cannot be constant at the end. It will be a race of survival. We worked differently than the others in FP4 to see if the tire would be okay. I’m pretty happy with the result and my pace in FP4.”

The big topic in the Montmeló paddock is on Saturday Jack Miller’s Ducati farewell. How does this affect Bagnaia, who has long since extended his contract until the end of 2024? The vice world champion chose his words carefully: “Having Jack as a teammate was great for me. Because we form a group as a team. This is something I really want and really need. We’ve been working together since 2019 and have had a great relationship in the box ever since. We’ve worked together a lot and we talk a lot during the weekend, regarding the tires and everything.”

“I would like to have the same relationship in the future,” Pecco sent a message to his future stablemate – either Enea Bastianini or Jorge Martin. “Whoever will be my team-mate will certainly understand that. If we want to be fast and improve, we have to work closely together and have a good relationship. I’m pretty sure this has started since Jack and I joined the team. The situation will definitely be the same in the future, just with a different driver.”

“I would like to wish Jack the best of luck in his future,” concluded the Italian.

MotoGP-Ergebnis, Q2, Montmeló (June 4):

1. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 1: 38,742 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, 1: 38.773 min, + 0.031 sec
3. Quartararo, Yamaha, 1: 38,959, + 0,217
4. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 39.027, + 0.285
5. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, 1: 39.099, + 0.357
6. Martin, Ducati, 1: 39,142, + 0.400
7. Rins, Suzuki, 1:39,145, + 0,403
8. Viñales, Aprilia, 1: 39.397, + 0.655
9. Marini, Ducati, 1: 39.451, + 0.709
10. Pol Espargaró, Honda, 1: 39,477, + 0.735
11. Miller, Ducati, 1:39,523, + 0,781
12. Nakagami, Honda, 1:39,611, +0.869

The rest of the starting lineup:
13. Bezzecchi, Ducati, 1: 39,240 min
14. Bastianini, Ducati, 1: 39.246
15. Brad Binder, KTM, 1:39,249
16. Oliveira, KTM, 1:39,420
17. Mir, Suzuki, 1: 39,664
18. Morbidelli, Yamaha, 1:39,884
19. Dovizioso, Yamaha, 1:40,071
20. Gardner, KTM, 1:40,113
21. Bradl, Honda, 1:40,298
22. Pirro, Ducati, 1:40,351
23. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, 1: 40,373
24. Fernandez, KTM, 1: 40,587
25. Alex Marquez, Honda, no time