Hours have passed since Ducati official Pecco Bagnaia crashed on the fourth lap during a German Grand Prix in scorching temperatures. An accident which is perhaps one too many for the Italian to whom the Borgo Panigale factory had given the mission of winning the title this year, riding a GP22 which had to do better than the GP21. But here he is now 91 points behind, after ten Grands Prix contested, on the leader and defending champion Fabio Quartararo, admirable winner on Sunday at the Sachsenring. There was great anger at Pecco Bagnaia as he returned to his Ducati stand in complete disarray. To understand, they went to dissect the data, but nothing was found that could absolve the pilot of his responsibilities...
Pecco Bagnaia If you can watch the film of this corner at the Sachsenring several times, the outcome will always be a crash. The Italian was red with anger as he joined his family in the box: “ have you ever seen a MotoGP rider lose his rear end like that? From the start of the race I had no more grip », he then complained, casting doubt on a possible technical or tire problem. But we must now face the facts because the telemetric data is clear: the vice-champion of the MotoGP 2021 made a mistake.
The asphalt conditions destabilized the excellent feeling established by the very sensitive Pecco Bagnaia since Friday's free practice and, undoubtedly, the exit of the first turn under the orders of fabio quartararo put the pressure on. Therefore, at Ducati, we create a bubble around the one we signed until 2024 and alongside whom we must designate a new team member in place of a Jack Miller which he loved, but which we decided not to keep. An approach that Davide Tardozzi launches thus: “ Pecco's reaction is completely understandable, we have already looked at the data…It must be considered that the track in the afternoon was worse than any other session, even on the Friday of the first free practice session ».
« The fact that Fabio took a few meters in advance meant that Pecco Bagnaia kept a more sustained cornering speed«
The team manager continues: “ it was hotter than ever, the trail was slippery and Jack almost fell in the same place as well. We had to think differently. Obviously the fact that Fabio has taken a few meters in advance means that Pecco maintains a more sustained cornering speed ».
So the objective now is to avoid that bagnaia does not sink morally after falling on the track: “ Pecco must be defended at the moment, he gives great satisfaction. He made mistakes and we made mistakes. The beauty of our relationship is that we onlyone” adds the Ducati Corse team manager. “ Who made the mistake and if there was a mistake, it's now over. Ducati is competitive right now, he just needs to tweak a few things to be a super fast rider and he will become the champion he is " finished Tardozzi.
Pecco Bagnaia experienced his fourth fall of the season and his second in a row in Germany after being caught by Taka Nakagami in Catalonia. In Assen, it would be very useful for the red coats to obtain a clear result to emerge on top from this situation which could turn into a crisis.
Results of the MotoGP German Grand Prix at Sachsenring:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
