Pecco Bagnaia experienced a true descent into hell this Sunday at the Sepang circuit, and according to him, Ducati is largely to blame. Finishing only thirteenth under the checkered flag on his machine, the Italian rider suffered from a staggering lack of grip from start to finish of the long race. Disillusioned and unable to display his usual riding style, the Italian champion is now openly attacking the Borgo Panigale-based company , publicly questioning the technical choices and the material development of his bike.
A tire nightmare and total impotence on the track
Speaking to the media, the rider described the early collapse of his rear tire, which turned the second half of the race into a particularly embarrassing exercise in survival. “The race unfolded exactly as I had planned yesterday, knowing how it was going to go. Yesterday, the rain saved me, allowing me to push harder than I could have otherwise . In fact, the rain was actually in my favor yesterday; otherwise, I would have finished dead last anyway. I had absolutely no grip. Today, in the first few laps, I really tried to manage the situation, but after the fifth lap, my rear tire was completely flat, to the point that on the last lap, I couldn't even get my knee down in the right-hand corners. It's strange: I've always been good at managing my tires, and it seems I've become incapable of it, so I have to relearn ,” he told GPOne.
Tensions between Pecco Bagnaia and Ducati
In a stark departure from his official statements, the Italian revealed the existence of technical components used in Japan the previous season that were subsequently withdrawn. "I underestimated the problems with my bike. I'm counting down the minutes until the end of the season . In Japan last year, at Motegi, I was able to use something that no longer exists, and I was able to come back and win. And it wasn't there after Motegi either. What? I don't want to go into details ."
The end of the season approached in survival mode
No longer able to find the keys to regaining his usual consistency or to exploit the chassis's full potential, the Italian succinctly sums up his ambitions for the final rounds of the season: "My goal for the end of the season? To survive." A chilling statement that reflects the immense rift that has opened up between the driver and the technical management before the final races of the year.
Do you understand Pecco Bagnaia's frustration and direct attacks against his team? Let us know in the comments!
Results of the Malaysian MotoGP Grand Prix:
Ranking credit: MotoGP.com
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
