Francesco Bagnaia: “3 strong tracks” but Martin “can control more”

"We have three tracks where we are very strong"

Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, 2024 Japanese MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin, 2024 Japanese MotoGP

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Francesco Bagnaia must overturn a 21-point gap to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Jorge Martin over the final five rounds if he is to win his third successive MotoGP crown.

It’s the opposite situation to a year ago, when Bagnaia was 18-points ahead of the Pramac r🌸ider at the sameꦰ stage.

On the other hand, the✤ composition of the last five rounds is slightly🐽 different.

Last season concluded with: Phillip Island, Buriram, Sepang, Lusail and Valencia. This time it’s: Mote😼gi, Phillip Island, Buriram, Sepang and Valencia, with Qatar returning💙 to season opener.

“I think this track [Moteg🀅i] is good for us, I think Thailand and Malaysia is good for us. So we have ♒three tracks where we are very strong,” predicted Bagnaia.

“Then we have Australia where Jorge is very strong, and the 🌱fight between us could be similar in places like Thailand and Valenc🤪ia. 

"But I think we are in a situation where we need to be better than him. He can coꩵntrol a🅠 bit more.”

Martin disagreed that his advantage is now big enough 🌸to try and man🐓age.

“Still five rounds to go, so it's no sense to start think🍸ing about the controlling,” he said. “I think it's more ⛦about doing a good job and taking points in every situation.”

Martin took only his third grand prix win of the season last Sunda🐭y at Mandalika, but Bagnaia emerged 3 points closer due to✤ the Spaniard falling from the lead on lap one of the Sprint.

“Last weekend was incredible. Even if I lost some points in the ♊championship, I felt super good after winning again,” Martin said. “Since Le Mans was tough, a big roller coaster. I was quite close to win some Sundays, but then I did mistakes so it was really emotional.”

Bagnaia saw the glass as𝔍 h🌜alf-full: “Considering the performance of Jorge in Mandalika, we have to see that weekend in a positive way, gaining three points in a track that suits so good to Jorge was good.”

The Italian also cited his perfect double v🐠ictory at the Red Bull Ring as a confidence boost for the 'stop-go' Motegi weekend.

“Motegi is a track that I like. A track that suits better my riding style compared with Mandalika. We have a lot of b💙raking points and acceleration so I think it’s more similar to Austria, which is a track that I'm feeling good,” he said.

But Martin won both races at Motegi last season, a dry Sprint and then a soaking, red-flagged, Sunday ♑race.

“Last season for sure was good [at Motegi], but it was a differenꦗt situation. I was coming from behind trying to attack and I won the Sprint and the Sunday race,” Martin said.

“The weather forecast is again qui♐te unpredicta⭕ble. So it will be also difficult and really challenging. I will give my best but let’s see.

“If it rains, the important thing for me is to focus on doing my best. I don't want to think a lot about the title, it's more about𒈔 doing my best every race weekend.”

“We have to be prepared in every situation,” added Bagnaia. “I think our performไance could be very good and 🅠[we can] start gaining more points on Jorge.”

While Martin fumbled by diving into the pits during a brief Misano rain shower, Bag🧔naia stayed out and 🍸won.

The Italian admitted another flag-to-flag race with the title potentially at stake would get the adrenaline pumping.

“Last season we had a flag to flag and we finished first and second,” he sai💛d of the 2023 Motegi race. “You have to control a bit 💞and not take too much risk, but also you have to take points.

“It's one of the most difficult things, but al♊so one of the greatest things to do because it gives to you a lot of motivation, a lot of adrenaline. You have to be ready.”

Free practice starts at Motegi on Friday morning.

Read More