Let's talk MotoGP: Pecco Bagnaia has lost the battle... against himself

Despite eighteen wins this season, including eleven on Sunday, Pecco Bagnaia lost the MotoGP world title. Two years later, he had to hand over the number 1 to his rival Jorge Martin, not without having fiercely defended it. After having been interested, precisely, in the case of the "Martinator", we will now focus on Pecco Bagnaia because there are questions to ask, moments to analyze, and lessons to learn. For two days, Italian will be our main subject and it starts right away.

 

A weekend that reflects the season

 

First, I wanted to congratulate him, too, for his incredible campaign.. It is one of the best of all time, with the numbers to back it up. His total of eleven Sunday victories follows Jorge Lorenzo's eight in 2013, making it the most wins in a season without a title at the end. It stings. But first, greatness; then, pain..

Greatness, because his weekend in Barcelona, ​​which everyone will have forgotten in a week, was just sensational. He couldn't do better. On a circuit that has sometimes resisted him (remember that fall, alone in the lead, in the final lap of the Sprint earlier in the season), even when injured, he stood out and did not hesitate to remind everyone that he is probably the best driver in the world.

 

 

Yes, you read that right. I still consider Bagnaia the best rider in the world, and I will explain.. First of all, never in history has being crowned champion made someone the best. They are two completely different things, which often overlap, but not always. There are dozens of examples in motorcycling sports alone, of Wayne Rainey à Nicky Hayden Passing by Joan mir. This is also the case in Formula 1 with John Surtees, Phil Hill ou Keke rosberg, among others. Then, because this season, Martin has not been able to contain Bagnaia. Exactly like in Barcelona, ​​Jorge has been unable to do anything, in the vast majority of races – and even, many Sprints. I am not saying that Martin does not deserve, nor that he does not make a fine champion! We simply have to know how to accept this fact, which has nevertheless been widely verified on the scale of history.

Hence the title of this article, which follows a weekend that reflects its season. SIn my opinion, it was Bagnaia who lost this championship, and not Martin who won it.. To tell the truth, it doesn't matter if it was Martin, Marquez or someone else, Bagnaia would have lost it anyway against any opponent who was even slightly regular and fast. Can anyone blame me for these comments, when one driver has 18 victories to the other's 10? Can I be blamed for thinking that the best rider is not the one who has 16 second places in the year? Can I be blamed, when, when both crossed the line on Sunday, Bagnaia finished ten times ahead of Martin, while the opposite scenario only happened four times?

 

 

Ce Grand Prix Solidarity was the perfect example of this phenomenon. Martin ended up champion, but Bagnaia was better. Only he could have scuttled himself, and only he scuttled himself. What had to happen happened, even if I had not seen it coming. I must admit that I was wrong in my predictions.

 

A different heritage?

 

For this Grand Prix where the main mission was to be worthy in order to pay tribute to the Valencian Community, Bagnaia was up to the task. Apart from the fact that he is Valentino Rossi's pupil, I don't understand how anyone can come to hate such a pilot., certainly not helped by his employer (but I will have the opportunity to talk about it again).

After the race, he stepped aside to make way for Jorge Martin, and did not fail to congratulate him in the parc fermé. It's classy, ​​it's Bagnaia. We cannot say that his character will have allowed this end of season to ignite, despite the abundant and disproportionate promotion of DORNA, but at least we celebrated two great champions.

 

 

However, there were reasons to be disgusted, especially since Bagnaia does not like to lose, it was quite visible at Le Mans for example. It is clear that giving up the number 1 to a satellite driver, "it looks bad". He saved face, but I think Pecco knows full well that this 2024 season will not help his legacy, the mark he will leave in Grands Prix. After all, he still had a good year, but as they say in the United States, the second is never anything but the first loser.

I'm curious to know what you think, precisely, about his legacy if he were to leave the World Cup today. The second part of this analysis is now published. Click here to find it. Tell me what you think in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport