After yesterday’s fastest time on day one of testing in Qatar, Francesco Bagnaia looks well set for the official start of the championship and gave his current form a high eight (out of ten). However, he sees some aspects in which his bike needs to improve, despite noticing some progress.
On the power delivery at the first touch of the throttle, widely praised by the Ducati Desmosedici GP24 riders, Bagnaia began by saying: ‘For me I have to say that for now it seems to be an improvement but I think the main part of this big improvement comes from the asphalt, and it’s difficult, but it’s an improvement and it’s helped a bit’.
He recalled past test bikes and explained where his current version should take a step forward:
– About whether it’s the best new Ducati I’ve got… I don’t know. Compared to last year’s tests, yes, and the 2022 bike in the first tests was a complete disaster. Last year the first two and a half days were also a bit of a disaster, but I think it’s good and helps a lot when braking. Last year I had a lot of difficulties in that aspect in the second part of the season and so I think we’ve made a good step forward in braking, cornering speed, but I think in terms of grip we have less compared to the previous bike and that’s an aspect we’re working on and I think we’ve made a small step forward in that, in terms of settings, and I think it’s something we can improve.
From one to ten how confident he is for the start of the season, Bagnaia replied: ‘Eight, at the moment. There’s still one more day of testing and Friday in Qatar, here. In Malaysia I think it was a seven and I didn’t expect it so quickly, without pushing so hard to get to this level and that’s fantastic but I want to take things calmly and see what happens when we finish work and decide everything’.