Francesco Bagnaia returned to the track this Friday on the first day of the MotoGP San Marino GP, less than a week after the contusions he suffered in Barcelona. Nevertheless, the Ducati rider managed to secure the seventh fastest time in the timed practice session and advances directly to the second phase of qualifying.
The defending champion explained to reporters how he was physically affected: ‘Honestly, I can’t move the foot because I feel pain for the hematome. But this morning was tougher because I was understanding where to put the foot. This afternoon we moved the rear brake lever because I was pushing on the rear brake lever, I was losing the rear in all the fast corners and it was quite scary. But this afternoon I understood where to put the foot. I can’t lean like normal, but we did a good step in front. The pain is quite intense, but I feel a bit better compared to this morning because we were competitive. And this is something that also helps a lot’.
For Bagnaia, the result on Friday is a cause for great satisfaction, as he stated: ‘I don’t know what to expect from tomorrow, but right now be in the top 10 today was like a pole position. I was quite emotioned at the end of the practice, all the team was. We can be very happy and satisfied with the result we did today’.