– Francesco Bagnaia draws a predominantly positive conclusion from the Grand Prix in Le Mans despite his crash. The Ducati factory rider emphasizes after the race that the team has made significant progress in recent days.
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“There are many more positive than negative things,” explains Bagnaia. The Italian is particularly satisfied with the development work after the previous tests: “We have worked on and improved everything I asked the team for.”
After a difficult start, Bagnaia fought his way forward again in the French Grand Prix and even saw himself in a position to fight for the podium. “I thought I could catch Bez because I believe I had the better pace,” he says.
Technical problem causes setback again
About seven laps before the end, however, Bagnaia lost confidence in the motorcycle, according to his own statement. The cause was a technical problem that ultimately also led to the crash. The Ducati rider firmly rules out a riding error. Upon inquiry, Bagnaia also confirms that it was a similar problem to the one recently experienced in Jerez.
However, the two-time MotoGP world champion does not want to go into details: “I don’t want to go into detail. It was not a human error.” At the same time, he emphasizes that Ducati has already understood the cause and is working on a solution.
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Despite the retirement, Bagnaia therefore draws a positive conclusion: “For the first time, I was able to push, I was able to fight, I was able to overtake some riders.”
Bagnaia sees progress in feeling for the motorcycle
The Italian also sees progress in the area of rear wheel grip. After difficulties in the first races of the season, the feeling improved significantly on Sunday. Bagnaia is also convinced that he could have kept up the pace until the end of the race, even if Jorge Martin’s pace at the front was out of reach. “Fighting for the podium was a possibility,” says Bagnaia.
At the upcoming race weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, it will therefore be important to observe whether Ducati really manages to get the technical problems mentioned by Bagnaia under control. This raises sporting hopes for a close three-way battle between Martin, Bezzecchi, and Bagnaia.
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