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The Valencia GP put an end to the race for the 2023 riders’ title by crowning Pecco Bagnaia World Champion for the second consecutive year. With a goal that wasn’t easy to reach, the champion from Chivasso achieved the feat of the greatest of riders. A race that wasn’t easy, in which the Ducati rider started with a 14-point advantage over Martin’s Ducati Pramac. A race with no holds barred, where the rider from Spain was sucked up by Bagnaia’s slipstream and then tried a a crazy comeback after which he ended up in the gravel.
Carlo Pernat’s comment:
“The championship is over, and it ended in glory for Ducati and for Bagnaia, who joins two other riders who won consecutive titles. We didn’t expect such an ending. Unfortunately, Martin was very nervous. He made a couple of mistakes and paid dearly for them. Pecco won like a real champion. He wanted to start in the lead, closing the race for the title with a victory. This shows that he has the mentality of a champion. In the past, we witnessed victories with a bit of caution. It wasn't his case. A season painted in red, with three Ducati in the lead, with Bagnaia, Martin, and Bezzecchi. It was also a Ducati supremacy in the Superbike and Supersport championships. Ducati approaches Ferrari’s successes by winning consecutive titles. A very important feat. A championship undermined by the weaknesses of Yamaha and Honda, unable to make champions like Quartararo and Marquez shine. That would make the championship even more interesting. Looking to the future, KTM promises to be the main rival, and it’s investing a lot and working hard.
“They might even change riders in 2025. But, for now, they have an impressive Binder in their ranks. Aprilia is just a bit behind KTM. We expected more, but we don’t know if it’s a rider or a bike problem. The bike has clearly progressed, but it’s not yet at the level of the Ducati. With the new concessions, we expect other constructors to chase Ducati in 2025. These concessions strongly penalize Ducati’s development and give absolute freedom to Yamaha and Honda. This could be great for rebalancing the championship, or wrong, because it damages meritocracy. It’s not easy to find the perfect formula for a balanced championship. The only Moto2 rider to enter the 2024 World Championship will be Pedro Acosta. He’s a champion, and we’re all curious to see how he'll perform in this category. He’ll be riding a competitive KTM, but it’ll take half a season to see things more clearly. A championship that ended in the best way possible, with Bagnaia who proved to be a true champion.”
