Bagnaia: "The old Ducati was already perfect and it has been improved"

November 19, 2021

Bagnaia closed last season with four wins and five pole positions in the last six races that led him to finish runner-up in the MotoGP world, just 26 points behind Fabio Quartararo. In addition, Ducati finished the course at the Valencia GP with its first hat-trick thanks to the Italian’s victory ahead of Jorge Martín and Jack Miller, second and third respectively.

In the end, between the six Ducati riders they achieved 11 pole positions, 7 wins and 24 podium finishes, which helped the Borgo Panigale-based brand achieve its third constructors’ championship and the team title. In addition, the Pramac was proclaimed the best independent, Johann Zarco was the best private and Jorge Martín took the rookies award .

In 2022 , Ducati ups its ante. After running out of the riders’ title – the one that counts the most – they will line up eight bikes, five GP22 and three from 2021. At the first pre-season test, which was held this Thursday and Friday in Jerez, the Bologna manufacturer has brought a series of novelties , among which a new engine, fairing and exhaust stand out.

Bagnaia was quick right away and led Friday morning around the Andalusian track with a time of 1m36.872s, bettering his qualifying lap here during the Spanish GP.

“The old bike was already perfect and we are improving that perfect bike,” Bagnaia said midway through the day. “It’s unbelievable. The time we’ve done and the pace we’re doing on medium and used tires is unbelievable.”

“This means that Ducati has done a great job, because improving an already fantastic bike is not easy.

“For next year we will have a lot more things to try, there will be something in Sepang.”

The world runner-up pointed out that even the GP22 engine – the first that Ducati has been able to develop since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – is already more or less at the current level.

“The character of the engine is totally different,” he explained. “But as always, when something is new you have to understand it and it is more or less on the same level as the old one, but it is only the second day that we are using it.”

“We still have room [for improvement]. I feel very good with the work they are doing, I have a lot of confidence. Ducati has all my confidence for the development, and I think we are contributing great things – Jack and I – to improve this bike” .

“There are small differences in the bike. Some things have worked well and others maybe not. So we have been going around to understand and find a way to continue for next year. But I already feel very good,” he clinched.

(Click to pass the images of the MotoGP test in Jerez and if you can’t do it click on this link)

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team