Let’s talk MotoGP: Pecco Bagnaia is monstrous

Our retrospective of the 2022 season ends today, with the analysis of Pecco Bagnaia's season. As for the others, looking at your place in the general is not enough. Thus, we will look at the dynamics, the context, the qualifications, the expectations that the Italian aroused to judge his campaign. Yesterday was the season of fabio quartararo who was in the spotlight. You can find the corresponding article by clicking on this highlighted sentence.

As a reminder, this opinion remains subjective, and only reflects the thoughts of its author.

I) Strange physiognomy

This 2022 season, exceptional in more than one way, is ultimately quite difficult to understand as a whole. If we analyze the figures coldly, Bagnaia's season is in no way transcendent. With 13,2 points per race on average, this is the second worst total since the advent of the MotoGP championship in 2002, after the 2020 season of Joan mir. In addition, Pecco still fell five times, which had never happened for a world champion. If we take into account the quality of the equipment that Bagnaia had, one might think that this is meager.

But that would be to omit the verdict of the track. We were particularly impressed by Pecco, especially at the end of the season. With a seemingly bad bike, Bagnaia struggled to get his package working in the first rounds. Ultimately, it was only from the Dutch Grand Prix, one of the turning points of the season, that the graduate of the VR46 academy really established himself as the best current driver. NOTWe're not afraid to say it.

 

Then the recital began. We saw a monster evolve, quite simply. There are several things to remember from this astonishing end to the season. First of all, we had never seen, in 73 years of Grand Prix, a driver progresses so quickly and so pronounced in the space of a few races. Last year, we wrote about his excitement after the Misano GP, which he concluded with another fall in the lead. Moreover, in a sense, Le Mans 2022 confirmed this analysis. But soon, Bagnaia corrected the situation.

À Misano, Sepang or in Aragon, he proved that he was becoming one of the strongest under tension, achieving performances from beyond the grave. To tell the truth, and although this may seem blasphemous, we believe that even “Marquez 2019” would have had difficulty against the “Bagnaia 2022 Assen – Valencia”. The way in which Pecco maintained a favorable momentum after falls that we thought were decisive (Germany, Japan) was astonishing. Nothing could happen to him. After Silverstone and his “surprise” victory, it’s as if the title was promised to him while he was still close to 49 points behind. The Italian exuded such confidence, such an aura, that the image of his greatness exceeded its real level: the mark of legends.

II) Pay attention to your eyes

Even his five falls don't work against him that much. Arriving as favorite in Qatar, he pushed hard to advance his Desmosedici GP22 but without results. Nothing to do with a more classic pilot error. Then, we must not forget his disappointment at Barcelona, ​​broke down by Nakagami at the first braking when he had a good chance of victory. Certainly, the other three are less justifiable and entirely his fault, but is it so serious? Bagnaia is the driver of the future. The one who can afford to fall five times or more in seasons punctuated by shocks. Abandonments which, thanks to constantly improving security, no longer impact the mind at all. The intrinsic speed of these newcomers is such that nothing, or almost nothing, can disrupt them on the scale of a campaign.

 

 

So, certainly, we note some weak points here and there – especially during the first part of the season. But overall, these defects were corrected over the year. Establishing a plan to defeat the Bagnaia – Ducati pair is a real headache. In addition to being the best rider with the best machine, he is by far the most complete in the field. Case to follow.

Conclusion:

Bagnaia completed a historic campaign, which demonstrates a radical change in the championship ecosystem. For the first time since 2006, no Spaniard is present in the top 3 in the premier category. Bagnaia embodies novelty, freshness. For sure, Valentino Rossi must be immensely proud of the work done by the Ducati official. Realize: despite a “failed” start to the season, Pecco ended the year with 189 laps led, against 172 for Quartararo, Miller and Martín combined. Without a doubt, he makes an exceptional champion who history will remember.

What did you think of his year? Tell us in the comments!

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport