Pecco Bagnaia was able to appreciate its growing popularity among Ducatists who took up its name with chorus during the big party that the brand organized in Bologna to celebrate the numerous titles acquired by its riders at the end of this 2023 season. CEO Claudio Domenicali reported on the occasion that negotiations for the extension of the contract of the now double World Champion were already well underway. So many favorable omens which will be very useful for him to launch into a 2024 campaign which promises to be even tougher than the one which has just passed. The fact remains that Bagnaia does not hide the fact that he would like to sign up with Ducati in the long term, even considering continuing his career after MotoGP with a red suit again and again.
Pecco Bagnaia is of the discreet and industrious type, with a working method relating to scheduling which does not suffer the slightest disturbance. In this case, he gets angry as red as the tone of his Ducati official, but rarely against his direct adversaries with whom he avoids disputes as much as possible. A way of inexorably tracing his path which led him to 26 years, finding himself double consecutive MotoGP World Champion. A status that he assumes since he will be the first driver to defend the number 1 plate since Mick doohan in 1998 for a third crown in the premier category.
A number 1 that is close to his heart: “ the 2023 title was the best because I won with No. 1 » he commented. “ I wanted it and I would have had a hard time accepting defeat ". His career in MotoGP has only just begun but Pecco Bagnaia is already planning for the long term.
Pecco Bagnaia: “ Wikipedia is a page that I consult a lot! »
So, to the question of whether he will one day defend a title in WSBK, he answered on GP One : " I think about it from time to time. I like looking at the numbers and end of season stats. Wikipedia is a page that I consult a lot! I would also like to win in Superbike, but I still have time ».
On this level Pecco Bagnaia is an exception compared to his other colleagues on the starting grid who do not hide their little consideration for the category reserved for motorcycles from the series. In history, Troy Bayliss, Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden, James Toseland and Ben Spies are among the riders to have tried MotoGP and WorldSBK, changing classes with a title already under their belt.
On the Italian side, Max Biaggi won four 250GP titles then two WorldSBK crowns. In the meantime, Biaggi was also 500cc/MotoGP world runner-up in 1998, 2001 and 2002.
