The data sharing working methods at Ducati would backfire on Pecco Bagnaia? Until now profitable, it would not prove infallible for the double world champion against his rival Jorge Martin. Explanation.
Le Australian Grand Prix revealed the subtleties of the working method of Ducati and its impact on rider performance. While this approach often allows for notable progress during a MotoGP weekend, Pecco Bagnaia failed to capitalize on it at Phillip Island. Meanwhile, Jorge Martin extended its lead in the title race with an ingenious strategy.
bagnaia, who had fought all weekend, finished ten seconds behind the winners Marc Marquez et George Martin. This poor performance has caused concern, visible on the face of the reigning champion. This result is all the more worrying as Marquez had to come back after a bad start caused by his own visor being torn off. Despite this, the eight-time champion managed one of the best comebacks of the season to claim his third victory of 2024.
The strength of Ducati lies in its ability to quickly analyze the data collected by its eight bikes on the grid. This information, downloaded almost in real time, allows for constant adjustments using artificial intelligence tools. It is this process that explains the improvements that are generally observed in bagnaia over the weekend sessions. However, in Australia, these adjustments have not borne fruit.
Jorge Martin would hide his best data until the last minute, preventing Pecco Bagnaia from using it to improve
Bad weather, new track conditions and the cancellation of some training sessions prevented bagnaia to prepare effectively. Unlike Martin, who shone from the start of the weekend, winning pole and dominating the sprint, bagnaia never found the rhythm needed to compete with the leaders.
George Martin, for his part, seems to have changed strategy for this decisive end of the season. A close friend of Martin confirmed on motorsport total that His team now hides its best data until the last minute, preventing competitors, including Bagnaia, from using it to improve.. This approach has clearly paid off, with Martin doubling its lead in championnat à 20 points.
As the next race in Thailand approaching, the tension rises. Martin intends to reveal your cards as late as possible, hoping to replicate its 2023 success in Buriram. If Martin If he continues on this path, he could get a first match point for the title at the Malaysian Grand Prix. For his part, bagnaia knows he has to react quickly, especially since Marc Marquez, his future teammate, becomes more and more threatening.
The fight for the 2024 MotoGP title promises to be thrilling, with a tight duel between bagnaia et Martin, and a strategy Ducati turning into a data war that could well be the key to success.
