The year was particularly tough for Pecco BagnaiaThe Italian rider, a three-time Grand Prix world champion, was never able to tame the Ducati Desmosedici GP25, which seemed perfectly suited to his teammate, Marc Marquez. The result was a bitter pill to swallow at the end of the year: Marquez finished as champion, while Bagnaia fought to the very end only to finish fifth overall, 257 points behind. Pecco will have to react immediately if he ever wants to return to the top. According to Pol Espargaro, the mental aspect is crucial.
In a lengthy interview given to ASPol Espargaro opened up about what he felt when he was Marc Marquez's teammate, as he was, at Honda, in 2021 and 2022. « Among his many qualities, Marc has the ability to reach his limits much earlier than others and to play with those limits in a unique way.What happens when you have problems, but your opponent doesn't feel them, or feels them much less, as is the case with Marc? Who wins this way? Well, it devastates you, and you feel these problems more than ever. he declared.
According to the Spaniard, this is what brought about Pecco Bagnaia's downfall this year. « This is the situation Pecco finds himself in; he is undergoing a transformation, attempting to evolve, but he clearly hasn't hit rock bottom yet. » he added.
It is worth remembering that Espargaro has known Marc Marquez since he was a child, and that a kind of rivalry even existed between them in the lower categories. « It was a fierce battle.He was very small, very light, so I knew that sooner or later he would overtake me in a straight line, which made the duels much more difficult. He had immense talent, even as a child, and he used it to his advantage; it could have been a problem because being lightweight and small also presents challenges when it comes to controlling a motorcycle.But despite everything, he came out on top. he concluded.
Do you think, like Pol Espargaro, that Marc Marquez's results may have had a negative influence on Pecco Bagnaia's season? Tell us in the comments!
Photo: Michelin Motorsport
