2023-10-19 08:54:20
The two clear candidates for the title, the Italian ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia (Ducati, 346 points) and the Jorge Martín from Madrid (Ducati, 328)have been presented in Phillip Islandthe beautiful circuit by the sea that this weekend will host the Australian Grand Prixone of the most liked by the pilots of MotoGPas if nothing had happened in Mandalika, Indonesia, where ‘Martinator’ won the sprint on Saturday, taking the lead in the top category, and, less than 24 hours later, it was Bagnaia who won the long race, recovering the first place in the World Championship thanks to a fall by the star of the Prima Pramac team, when he was almost three seconds ahead of second, the Catalan Maverick Viñales.
“It’s hard and I regret it, having had the shortest MotoGP lead in history, right? Well, I didn’t even make it to 24 hours but, well, here we are to continue fighting and try to recover as soon as possible,” said Martín. on Phillip Island. “Sunday afternoon in Indonesia was not very happy, no, thinking about my haste and that mistake in turn 10, which forced me to leave the good line and enter a dirty area when turning into turn 11. That’s why I I fell, but it is now forgotten and, luckily, we already have another grand prix where we can do better”.
difficult to escape
Martín believes that on Sunday, where they announce some possibility of rain, but not on Friday and Saturday, it will be “very difficult to escape, although those of us who fight for the title (Bagnaia, him and Marco Bezzecchi) will try to make it a small group from the beginning. small who leads the race, but it is one thing to wish for something like that and another, very different thing, for it to happen. Bagnaia fully agrees with this race version “because here the wear of the rear wheel, including the front, is critical, very critical, so it will be vital to save the tire for the final part of the grand prix.”
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‘Martinator’ does not believe that he should change anything, “well, yes, be a little less aggressive when I achieve almost three seconds, as I achieved in Mandalika, with respect to my pursuer, if I manage to escape, which, I insist, will be difficult here” . “When I say that we must behave the same, it is that we have everything to continue being the fastest, we have been that way every weekend, that is why I hope to show, once again, my best version and that it will be enough to fight for the podium and, if possible, even for victory.”
“Of course, I would like to be able to reach the last race, to Cheste, to Valencia, to Spain, to the grand final with the possibility of being champion, that would be beautiful, a dream and, above all, very fun for everyone, public and fans included,” commented Martín, who when asked what ‘Pecco”s greatest virtue and defect was in his driving, said: “He lacks acceleration when exiting corners, but he brakes like no one else.” Same question for Bagnaia and his answer was the opposite: “Jorge doesn’t brake as well as me, but he accelerates much better.”
Márquez: “I have to earn the good Ducati on the track”
Marc Marquez (Honda), who still does not know if he will be able to test the Ducati ‘Desmosedici’ of the Gresini team in the Valencia test, two days after the season ends, although everything seems to indicate that his friendly departure from Honda will allow him to do so, he declared today, in Phillip Island (Australia), which for him and his future “would be, of course, very good to be able to try it before winter, maybe to relax or maybe to worry.” And he gave a final laugh.
Márquez, who acknowledged that having resolved and announced his divorce with Honda has left him much calmer, acknowledges that “I would love to end my relationship with Honda and my team well and, if possible, with some more podiums, of course.” The driver from Cervera (Lleida) acknowledged that only one of his mechanics, Javier Ortiz, can be brought to the Gresini team, regretting, once again, having to separate from his technical team, which is led by his friend Santi Hernández. “I will find them lacking, although I fear they will find me more lacking.”
Regarding the Ducati that he will ride next year, Márquez explained that he had not yet spoken with those responsible for Gresini, “because I have signed with Gresini and they will be the ones who will have to negotiate which bike I have in 2024.” Everything seems to indicate that it will be this year’s version, that is, probably the ‘Desmosedici’ that ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia and Jorge Martín are now piloting, with which they are fighting for the world title.
“You earn the bike and the improvements on the track. That is, the faster you are, the more improvements come. That has always been the case. So if I want the best Ducati, I will always have to be in front and that’s how they will think of me. I insist, if I want a good Ducati, I will have to earn it on the track,” said Márquez, with another big smile.
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