Losail.- As reported by Motorsport.com on Thursday, Pecco Bagnaia, and by regulation also Jack Miller, since both must use the same material, decided during the pre-season to discard Ducati’s new 2022 engine, and go back with a specification of propellant tested in the Jerez test, in November, with the base of the improved 2021 engine.
The news caught the MotoGP paddock by surprise, since after two years of frozen engines, for the official riders to finally discard the new unit to keep a previous engine, is an unexpected step backwards.
However, Bagnaia , runner-up last year and one of the clear favorites for the crown this year, has his decisions clear.
“I am convinced that this is the engine that will give us the best result. It is a mix between last year’s and the ones we used in preseason,” explained the rider, convinced that the change is “right.”
During the Sepang test, Pecco doubted the new engine and asked that the three available ones be brought to Indonesia, the 2021 one, the one from Jerez in November and the new one.
“I rode with it during the pre-season, and in Mandalika we decided to use this specification. We want to win, and I think we have to do it with this engine,” he said in reference to the Jerez hybrid.
The first day of the Qatar Grand Prix did not go quite as expected at Ducati, with the Italian finishing 10th, more than half a second behind Alex Rins. The Italian driver is dissatisfied with the result obtained, and hopes to improve the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday.
“I am not happy with how things have gone, especially with the sensations of the front end. But we already know the reasons”, settled the one from Turin.
The on-track action will continue for Pecco tomorrow, during the MotoGP qualifying day.
