The Chivassese starts the world championship in a great way, first in practice and third in the race «I can’t be disappointed after a weekend like this». Sunday the encore
CHIVASSO
Pole position and podium in the 2021 MotoGP debut race for the rider from Chivasso Pecco Bagnaia, who inaugurated the new season as follows: “I’m really happy to have started the championship with a podium – he declared at the end of the race -: it was my first race with the Ducati Lenovo Team and I came from a rather difficult 2020 season finale. I really tried in every way to keep my head and close the door in Viñales. Unfortunately, I think I made the wrong strategy and wore the tires too much at the start. After seven laps I began to struggle a lot, especially at the rear and I think this is also due to the track conditions on Sunday, which were different from the previous days. Luckily we still have a race here in Qatar, so we’ll try again next Sunday ».
In the heat of the moment, he had admitted to Sky a hint of disappointment for the lack of victory: «But it’s wrong, because I can’t be disappointed at the end of a weekend like this. After last year’s season such a result can only make me happy with the work done. I could have dropped the pace when I was having difficulty, but I tried to the end and that’s what changed compared to last year ».
Industry experts argue that the indications of the first Grand Prix of each season should be considered with due inventory benefit, but one thing is certain: anyone who aims for the world crown in this 2021 will have to deal with a Bagnaia who, in his third season in the premier class, he showed great maturity: the pole position was a masterpiece, the perfect start, the final leg worthy of a veteran, as well as the incredible power of the Ducati engine. The last lap, indeed the last hundreds of meters were very exciting, images destined for the film library: the reigning world champion Mir had overtaken the Ducati of Zarco and Bagnaia, relegating Pecco to the foot of the podium. The two riders of the Borgo Panigale bike faced the best in the last corner and, giving all the gas possible, in the final straight they overtook the Spaniard, conquering the place of honor and the third step of the podium. The comparison between Bagnaia and his teammate, the Australian Jack Miller, should not be underestimated: the two have an excellent professional and human relationship so there is no question of internal rivalry within the team, but certainly competitiveness exists and comparison. direct with those who have the same bike is important.
This first match certainly went to Bagnaia’s prerogative, ahead of Miller both in qualifying (pole position against fifth time) and in the race (third and ninth).
Taking a step back from the race, the pole conquered on Saturday was truly a scream: a time that seemed incredible to Bagnaia himself and that blew up the entire Ducati garage with joy. Pecco, at the end of practice, struggled to realize what he had achieved: «It was a wonderful qualifying: I said you could go under one minute and 53”. The first attempt was not good for me, but in the second, when I tried to push and saw that I was about to reach my best time, I was almost incredulous ». In addition to personal satisfaction, there is also that of having brought Ducati back in front of everyone in practice, which had not happened since October 2018, when Andrea Dovizioso took pole at Mortegi.
Once the first race has been archived, we look ahead: the opportunity to look for that “one hundred percent” that escaped Sunday will already arise next Sunday, when we will race again on the Losail circuit, where we competed on Sunday. The feeling between Ducati, Pecco and the track is now tested and the centaur from Chivasso, from his Instagram profile, launches the challenge: “We are ready to have fun again!”. –
Federico Bona