Valentino Rossi has a close friendship with Pecco Bagnaia that goes back to the days of the VR46 Academy. Jorge Martín is his main opponent in the world championship but, despite the Spaniard’s progress, the reigning world champion has no ‘weak points’, believes the former rider.
Il Dottore, owner of the VR46 Racing Team, continues to follow MotoGP closely and yesterday was seen at the end of the race greeting Bagnaia after he won the Sprint. At the end, speaking to Sky Sport, Rossi didn’t shy away from underlining the growth of the Pramac Racing rider, but he also made it clear that the #1 is a very balanced rider, saying: ‘Martin is there, he always manages to have that little bit more, he’s very calm, he rides well and he’s incredibly fast. He’s improved a lot in all aspects [but] at the moment, Bagnaia doesn’t have a weak point’.
And he explained, even referring to what happens in the premier class on four wheels, of which he is a well-known fan: ‘He has the speed [in one] lap, he always starts well and that’s a very important thing. It’s something that champions like [Max] Verstappen do [in Formula 1]. It’s not easy to always get a good start, every now and then you make a mistake, but he’s always there. Then he’s incredibly fast’.
Bagnaia’s way of riding is unique, with a style that is perfectly balanced between aggression and coolness:
– Lately, under pressure, he’s been at his best. This is Bagnaia’s strength for me: he’s aggressive, but he’s not dirty. He’s clean, but not sweet. It’s the right mix of nastiness, aggressiveness. He rides the Ducati with oversteer when braking, but also with mileage [on the tires] and without making mistakes. It’s hard to beat him now, but he’s there with Martín.