For his twentieth birthday, Pecco Bagnaia finished fifth in his first season in Moto2 with Valentino Rossi's team, and first rookie. He completed his first year in GP in 2013 in Moto3 on an FTR Honda from San Carlo Team Italia, before moving in 2014 to a KTM from Sky Racing Team VR46. He drove in 2015 and 2016 for Aspar as Mahindra's first driver, and he will probably go down in history as the only driver to win two Grands Prix for the Indian manufacturer.
In 2017, Bagnaia had four podiums (two second places and two thirds), with a total of 13 top 10s, and remarkably no retirements. “ It was difficult to expect a result like this since the team was new and I was making my debut in the category ", did he declare.
“However, since the first test, we have seen that we can move quickly thanks to some changes in the working method. We changed everything around Jerez and from then on everything went very well.
“I expected a good season. The podiums would have arrived, but I didn't think so quickly. We got a second place in the fourth race and finished the year still placing in the top five to ten. It's been a year for me.
“One thing I really liked was the bike being totally different from Moto3. It goes faster, the tires slide more and you have to control the sideways, it's a real motorcycle... Honestly I didn't expect to adapt so quickly. On Moto3 I was a little more limited. »
During the tests in Jerez and Valencia, Pecco tried “ a different chassis with a different swingarm. We then switched to the Öhlins suspension and that's what made me push harder. Me, Marquez et Olive tree made a difference, I am very happy with these tests.
“This season we have to constantly stay in the top three and aim for the title, that’s my goal and that of the team.
" I believe that Luca marini and I will be able to help each other a lot during the coming year because he is very strong and we will be able to follow each other even if, it must be said, we drive very differently. But in the end the entry into the curve and the way of using the gas is something we have in common. The important thing is to give my best and, in my opinion, we can really have a great season together.”
Photo © Sky Racing Team VR46
Source: motogp.com and Moto sprint / Conti Editore Srl
