MotoGP Tests Mandalika J3 Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati/5): “the stones are like bullet holes”

For three days, Pecco Bagnaia and his fellow MotoGP riders had to face the unusual conditions of a Mandalika track that was far too new. It is clear that if the Indonesian Grand Prix had to take place this weekend, there would have been a problem... Too much sand on the track which turns into mud at the slightest shower, stones in the areas of clearance identified by Jorge Martin, who tested them, as sharp... But these same stones scattered on asphalt soiled by the surrounding infrastructure works transform from blunt objects into bullets when they are swallowed by a motorcycle, which throws them then on the unfortunate pursuer. With what consequences? The picture speaks for itself...

The image of the tweet of Michelle Turco has gone around the web and it is an edifying piece of evidence that there is still a lot of work to be done Mandalika before a decent Indonesian Grand Prix. Because the integrity of the pilots is clearly at stake: “ these stones are like bullets, it's really dangerous when they hit you » alerts the vice-world champion. “ We talked about it in the safety commission, it's the first request we made for the Grand Prix. It's a big problem right now : if it were like that in racing, the first guy would have a big advantage, no one would approach because of the stones he would throw with the rear wheel... If the stone that hit me in the arm had landed on the radiator, it would have been a guaranteed breakage. They assured us that this will not be the case during the Grand Prix ».

With his left arm marked by an impressive hematoma, the official Ducati nevertheless comments on his tests in Indonesia and even the five days in total of tests carried out aboard a new GP22 which is not yet at its full potential: “ we are at 85% of our competitiveness, there is still room for improvement. We worked very well, we need to correct the acceleration delivery.” But he reassures: “we will be ready for Qatar ».

Pecco Bagnaia: “ ultimately, I think the GP22 has more potential than the GP21« 

Pecco Bagnaia completed 57 laps, the best in 1'31 "436, 0″215 off the best time of Pol Espargaro, the reference of the day. “ Sadly, five days of testing, including one, the first here, practically useless because of the track conditions, are not enough to develop a new motorcycle. We're a little late, but it's a "good" return, in the sense that we're already very fast anyway. But we have a margin: from yesterday to today I took a step forward in my pace, despite the fact that the asphalt was 15°C warmer ».

He adds : " we did an incredible job during these tests to prepare the bike for Qatar. Today we chose to do the simulation with the medium tire, even if the soft would have been more suitable. But the software will not be available for the race, that's why we used the medium: only me, Marini and Bezzecchi opted for this solution, the others did the simulation with the software. I hope to find a little more to improve the GP22, especially in accelerationnot ".

On this GP22, he explains enough to see that it is not a question of a quick grooming of the GP21… “ It's different, the engine has changed, the bike has changed in general. We have to change the driving style, adapt it to the GP22 : that's why I did a lot of laps, understanding better how to go fast in attack. In this regard, today we have taken a great leap forward. We are in good shape on the pace: ultimately, I think that the GP22 has more potential than the GP21 ". Now go to Losail, for the first Grand Prix of the 2022 season, that of Qatar. It will then be March 6th.

MotoGP Tests Mandalika J3: times

Credit classification motogp.com