RiderTua.com – Some MotoGP observers say that Pecco Bagnaia is the perfect race strategist, the red rider (not the red magician) revealed his strategy in Sunday’s race. Bagnaia explained what strategy he changed compared to the Sprint race, how he managed to outperform its current rival in Qatar.
The performance of the red hero, Francesco Bagnaia, was perfect from start to finish of the MotoGP race at the Lusail International Circuit. He immediately decided to put himself at the front and force his way through, no one could threaten him. His tactics worked and allowed him to conclude positively a weekend that didn’t start well on Friday with problems starting in FP1.
Pecco Bagnaia : Red Rider, A Perfect Strategist
The Italian rider spoke to Sport MotoGP media about his race.. “The strategy was the same as yesterday, but I couldn’t release the clutch well at the start and today I succeeded. The biggest difference was the way I handled the performance. Yesterday I tried to do everything while going in “The race (Sprint) and the bike had a great vibration, today I used a different strategy which worked much better. The Sprint helped us identify the problem and we solved it in the warm-up session, this time a great job too,” he said.
The three-time world champion explained his decision to immediately push the pace by leading the race from the start. “I never overdid it with the rear tire, because yesterday was a disaster, too much vibration. It was important to brake very hard and wait for the extra moment to try not to use the rear was too much. I arrived at the end of the race perfectly. I started a little slower, then slowed down. When someone tried to get close, I then tried to keep the distance again. Everything was perfect, the team again did a great job.”
The factory Ducati rider reiterated how important it is to be at the front immediately after the start of today’s race in Lusail. “We have learned to use more tires, more than necessary, in the first laps. That is too important. Yesterday the pressure increased too much and I struggled a bit. As soon as I saw the gap in turn 2 I overtook Brad and then I thought Jorge was too conservative in turn 3, so I overtook him straight away. Anyway I will do everything to finish the first lap with the lead and start to organize from there. It was very “It’s important. Yesterday I lost, especially when braking, because in slipstream it was more difficult, especially behind the KTM. I immediately tried to do a ‘crazy’ maneuver to try to be first.”
Have any changes to the bike or Pecco’s riding style had a bigger impact? Bagnaia replied that racing in a different way helped, but his setup was a bit further behind him because he could reduce the pressure on the rear tyre. “It all happened as a result.” said Valentino Rossi’s student rider…
Finally, Pecco was asked about what it was like to race after the Moto2 race on Pirelli tyres, which are new for 2024. “A much more reactive track. Normally it takes us 5-6 laps before we are fast again, but today we were ready straight away;” concluded Pecco… who added that Qatar is a special track, one that he and the team will understand better in Portimao.
