Second in the general standings, 10 points behind Fabio Quartararo after cutting him 81 in the last five races, Pecco Bagnaia has not raised his voice even once throughout the season, neither against the Frenchman nor against any other rider, which means that the level of tension and rivalry that has been experienced during past years in the fight for the title has been lowered extraordinarily.
“I think that the good relationship that exists between those of us who play for the championship is due to the fact that we are intelligent drivers, and I do not want to say that those who in the past acted differently were not,” said the Italian rider this Friday in Motegi when asked about the lack of rivalry between the title contenders.
“There is a lot of respect between us and we all know what we have to do to be at this level. At home we have to work a lot so that when we get here we are prepared physically and mentally. The respect between us is very high and that is why We have a good relationship,” he said.
“We are not friends, we are rivals, but with a lot of respect. If we have to talk, we talk. And if we have to make a joke, we do it. I think this has changed a lot in recent years and, personally, I think it’s better now , because you don’t see things that happened before”.
However, the popularity of the championship began to grow in the heat of rivalry between some drivers, such as Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi.
“I think that the great rivalry that existed in the past, like the one between Valentino and Biaggi, is now light years away, also because I think the journalists had their share of that. You always look for a rivalry, it’s normal, it can only win one, but for now we are rivals with respect, and I’m not going to say anything bad about Aleix because I don’t even think about it, nor do I think he needs it. Before there was more psychological warfare, but if someone says something bad against me it doesn’t affect me, because it is what he thinks and I respect him”, exposed the one of Ducati.
At the end of the day Bagnaia, increasingly a clear candidate for the title, finished second in the times and relatively happy with the job.
“It went well, I’m happy with how it went. We didn’t start very well, with some problems, but then we did a great job and improved with every start.”
Despite this, the equality between the majority of pilots was, once again, patent.
“We haven’t had as much time to improve, we’ve already done the attack on time, it’s gone well but still not as I would like. Normally you do an FP1 in which you can work. Today was different, there was only one session and, besides, “We haven’t been here for three years. That’s why I think everything is so even. I myself didn’t have a good first sector in the whole session, but the most important thing was to finish the day in the top ten, as they predict rain tomorrow And we have achieved that.”
Japanese salad is not easy to digest. Only one session on Friday, three years without coming to this track, tomorrow it will almost certainly rain and there are three drivers risking the title in a handkerchief.
“Yes, that’s why we have tried to do a different job with the tyres. We have tried to do a lot of laps with different compounds, between Jack Miller and me, to have a clearer idea of the race tire, but now it is still difficult to choose, it is a job that We have to look tonight, but the situation doesn’t help us, we need more laps. I’m happy with the sensations and the setting, but right now I don’t know what tires I can run the race with”, settled the boy from Turin.
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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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
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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