The 2023 MotoGP World Championship makes its fourth stop at Jerez de la Frontera for the Spanish Grand Prix, and the Ducati team spearheads Lenovo, Francis Bagnaia, is expected around the corner. Doubly so.
First of all because, after being almost perfect during the opening GP in Portugal, the reigning world champion experienced two crashes in the race during the last two GPs, thus bringing back the specter of the start of the 2022 season and his numerous falls in races when the Ducati rider is under pressure. The Argentine Sprint looked calm and controlled, and Sunday's crash occurred in the rain, which appeared to be a one-time mistake, as he bounced in the Texas Sprint. But a new fall in the race on Sunday reflected the pressure suffered by “Pecco”.
On the other hand, the Chivasso pilot will find in his box Enea Bastianini, absent since the Portuguese GP due to a right shoulder injury sustained during the Portimão Sprint race. If he successfully passes the medical examination, and if he regains full possession of his means, “Bestia” will not be asked to try to challenge his teammate whom he aims to dethrone at the end of the season.
The tension therefore risks going up a notch in the official Ducati box, even if, or because, Francis Bagnaia won the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez two tenths ahead fabio quartararo after starting from pole position and leading the entire race.
In any case, the performance of the Turinese, who remains a solid 2nd in the championship, will be interesting to observe…
Francis Bagnaia : " The Spanish GP will be the first in a long series of races that will take place in Europe, and I am happy to open this phase of the season at the Jerez circuit, where last year I won pole position and victory. We are coming from two GPs where we could have achieved important results, but instead I crashed twice, so I am very motivated to do well here in Spain. I will face the weekend as I always have done to fight for victory again. »
