We must not hide it, Pecco Bagnaia is the disappointment of qualifying for this Catalan Grand Prix. The one who is considered the best chance for the title by Ducati must recover from a misstep suffered during the last Italian Grand Prix. A mission which became complicated this Saturday with only the ninth fastest time in qualifying. A problem for the Italian? He admits no and takes full responsibility for the failure...
Pecco Bagnaia was shaken by the death of Jason dupasquier at Mugello, he was hurt by the comments about his position regarding the organization of the race despite everything, and he intends to erase all that with a good result in Catalonia. He started well during the practice sessions, but during qualifying he stalled. He explains, in all sincerity, this absence at a key moment of the meeting: “ this morning I was competitive. Despite trying a setting I didn't like, I was able to be fast. In the afternoon I let myself be conditioned by the wind, I was nervous and I didn't ride well either in FP4 or in qualifying.. I have to learn from what happened because it can happen again during the season ».
He adds : " in FP3 the bike worked very well, everything was fine: you just have to see that in qualifying I rode slower than in the morning. I will try to find that tranquility that I missed in the afternoon and I am sure that it will not be a problem to achieve it ».
Bagnaia: “between Quartararo and Oliveira, it is difficult to know which of the two is better”
His mea-culpa accomplished, he analyzes what could be Sunday's race. With a surprise: the favorite place given to Miguel Oliveira on his KTM. To listen to him, it's him, and not the Ducati, who will be the danger for Fabio Quartararo who will start with his Yamaha from the leading position: “ I think Fabio and Oliveira are the two strongest » assures the Italian. “ Miguel has an advantage in acceleration, he has more traction, but he struggles entering corners. So it will be a balanced fight between the two. It is difficult to understand which of the two is better ».
« The departure will be fundamental. I know that Quartararo will want to widen the gap, but we also have to think that it will be important to be consistent in the second half of the race » specifies the teammate Jack Miller who will start second. “ The fact is that we all put a lot of stress on the rear tire and some also stress the front tire. In this sense the KTM seems to be the best, but we are also good at tire management. Last year I recovered many positions at the end of the race. I could do it again, but I can't waste too much time at first ».
On the choice of rubbers, he is less assertive: “ the medium is too soft, there is a risk of graining, and the hard too hard. But I'll have to do some overtaking at the start and I think Fabio will use the medium, so maybe that will be the right choice for me too ". He ends with his distinguished colleagues, Miller et zarco... " They will certainly try to impose their rhythm and it will be essential for me not to lose positions. I know I have a good rhythm and Johann's is aligned with mine. Jack is a little more distant. But basically, we're all close ».
MotoGP Catalonia Barcelona J2: qualifying
Credit classification motogp.com
