The controversial decision of the stewards on Saturday to cancel the time that would have given Pecco Bagnaia pole in Q2 for not slowing down when there was a yellow flag on the track, sent the Italian down to 11th on the grid at Portimao, considerably limiting his career aspirations.
At the start, this time the Ducati were unable to take advantage of all their power and the Turin rider did not win a place. Bagnaia was slow to start making up ground and by the time he got to the front positions Fabio Quartararo already had victory in his pocket.
The one from Turin played for second place in the last five laps with Joan Mir, winning the game and achieving his second podium of the year. For #63 , the decision of the stewards on Saturday was decisive.
“Second place was the best, because the difference with Fabio was too big. Yesterday we lost the opportunity to win. If he had started later, maybe he would have done the same second, but he would have had more chances to fight. Fabio set a pace very strong, which probably no one expected,” Bagnaia introduced.
“When I got to Zarco, I thought it was possible to get on the podium. I imagined that Joan was on top because I felt his bike. It was a bit difficult for me in the last couple of laps because I had asked a lot of the tyres, but I’m starting to understand how to handle them.”
Bagnaia adds two podiums in three races and becomes strong in the official Ducati team, even more so after the new ‘zero’ due to a fall of his teammate Jack Miller. Now tracks of his liking arrive and he dreams of achieving his first victory in MotoGP.
“I hope that the first victory will come soon. Now there are tracks that I like, like Jerez, Le Mans, Barcelona and Mugello . We will try to be fast there too and maybe the first victory will come”, he points out.
With these 20 points, the former Moto2 champion rises to second place in the general table, 15 behind Quartararo. Still, he doesn’t want to hear about bigger things.
“I’m not looking at the championship, I’m happy to be second and I want to continue like this. I think it’s a bit early to talk about the title because it’s the first time I’m in these positions. This year my goal is to be consistent in all the circuits”, riveted
The photos of the Portuguese GP 2021 of MotoGP
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
