Today, in the paddock, everyone is already looking at Francesco Bagnaia as a “future great” of MotoGP after having looked at him as a “future great” of Moto3 following his first victory at Assen in 2016 and his first pole position. in the wet at Silverstone the same year.
The Italian has just won the Moto2 title and immediately showed himself to be particularly comfortable during the first MotoGP 2019 tests in Valencia, finishing as first rookie, just 6 tenths behind Maverick Vinales.
From now on, the one who will ride a Ducati GP 18 for the Alma Pramac Racing team next year is therefore considered in a different light, at the end of a journey which has not always been easy and began in the shadow of Romano Fenati.
In the Red Bull blog, Irene Saderini gives us a lovely portrait of “Pecco”, a taciturn, kind 21-year-old boy who persisted in pursuing his dream, against all odds, and finally achieved it.
“You understand that Pecco is a good person before being a good driver because when he makes a mistake he speaks in the first person, but when he wins he speaks in the plural. He worked to become a champion with the silent support of his family, unusually "normal" people in the happiest sense of the word, without the drama of restless souls or rock stars: two parents like Pietro and Stefania, a sister like Carola who encourages him, a girlfriend – Domizia – at his side.
He speaks three languages, asks “please” and says “thank you”. He's a taciturn guy, like those who know when it's time to say something. The Champion title means a lot to everyone, but to understand how important it is to Francesco, you have to rewind the tape and go back to his first season in Moto3, a few years ago.
Not everyone immediately bet on him, in the concrete sense of the term, since Bagnaia was initially seconded to Mahindra, outside the Sky Racing Team, because the leading driver at the time was Romano Fenati.
Being the leading driver means a lot of things in a long Grand Prix season, especially in its early days: engines that are always fresh (yes, only yours, those of others that slowly expire), and assistance - let's say comfort - that is necessary when you are a child and you feel that you have something in you, but you still do not know if next year you will get back on the bike or participate in the presentation of a new helmet.
Francesco Bagnaia, contrary to what one might believe today, did not have the road paved in front of him when he started. He was at Valentino Rossi's Academy, it's true, but he arrived there at such a strange moment, let's say such a special moment, that at a certain point in his first season he was left alone to believe in himself. Once, four years ago, someone even told him: “you will never become a pilot, you don’t have the talent”.
He didn't give up, Pecco. He had already decided he wanted to do it, the pilot. He knew he was strong and so he organized himself. Although it was explained to him that he did not have the necessary equipment to compete on motorcycles, he packed his things and moved away from home to train more. And he practiced more, for a long time, in silence. While many on his team shouted, threw things, raised their voices, he remained silent.
An expected triumph and an unexpected success: two exploits to be applauded, with a useful distinction.
On Sunday, Francesco Bagnaia celebrated his first World Champion title on the podium in Malaysia, and his old teammate, the one who always had new engines because he was the driver we focused on, was at home to watch the World Championship.
“Pecco is the one who does what needs to be done” says Valentino Rossi, November 4, 2018.
Including a very beautiful message written on the occasion of his world title (see here) ...
