Bagnaia finished runner-up in the world the season that ended last November, after carrying out a remarkable second half of the season, in which he finished as the strongest member of the grid. After claiming four wins and eight podiums, the Italian was 26 points behind Fabio Quartararo, the champion, but he has all the numbers to appear at the first round of the coming year, in Qatar, on March 6, with the label of favorite to all
In 2021, the Ducati was the motorcycle that won the most grand prix (seven), ahead of Yamaha (six), and also the one that accumulated the most poles (11), well ahead of the M1 (six).
Pecco Bagnaia, who had previously described the Desmosedici GP21 as “the perfect bike”, praised the work carried out on the new model by the Borgo Panigale technicians, which gained in handling. So much so, that as soon as he tried it in the last two test days of 2021, in mid-November, in Jerez, he already had the feeling of being ready to compete.
“I think that Ducati has listened a lot to its riders. To me, to Jack, to Johann [Zarco], to Martín. I asked for a bike that was easier to ride, because everyone says that our bike was already the most manageable, the fastest… best,” says Bagnaia on ‘Tank Slappers’, Autosport’s motorcycle racing podcast. “But that is something that I cannot say either, because in MotoGP I have not tried another one,” continues the Turin, who asked that the GP22 be more agile “in circuits with fast curves, which is the point where it still has the most travel. “.
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Dorna
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Pecco, who left the test at the Ángel Nieto Circuit in Jerez with the best record, was more than hopeful about his options for the World Championship that will start in three months.
“Normally, when you get on a new bike for the first time, you need an adaptation period. But my time in Jerez was incredible, because, in addition, I managed it with medium tires and a full tank of fuel. I worked a lot, and in the second One day the bike was ready to race”, reflects Bagnaia.
One of the most visible changes to the 2022 Ducati , at least in the version that could be seen in Jerez, is the new fairing, which will surely still undergo modifications in the pre-season tests in Malaysia and Mandalika, in February. “With the new fairing I already started to feel better, what happens is that, like most parts, it also has its negative aspects. The engineers will surely work hard on it”, completes #63.
