English
Italiano
For the moment, Pecco Bagnaia, with a 12th time in the morning, is out of the Q2 but plans to solve the problem without too many hitches tomorrow morning in the FP3, which should be dry. The Ducati rider from Piedmont employed the first day on the Red Bull Ring to study and work, but which he, unfortunately, did not completed due to rain in the afternoon.
“Last year, I hadn’t raced here, and it’s always strange to start racing again on a track that you haven’t been on for a while,” he explained. “In the FP1, I didn’t mount the new tire in the final, and I tested some things. I’d say that it was a pretty positive round, also considering that I started it with the setup for Jack’s electronics, and I wasn't at my best.”
And the wet asphalt?
“We did some tests and figured out how to improve. A fourth place wasn’t bad. Thinking about tomorrow, I definitely have the potential to stay ahead, and I’ll have to be able to take advantage of it. I’m convinced that I’ll be able to progress even further.”
Considering Quartararo’s difficulties when it’s wet, are you hoping for rain?
“I’d prefer a dry race, because the Formula1 raced here two weeks ago and, in braking and cornering, you have to be careful not to go over the tire marks they left. It’s really slippery. In any case, whatever conditions we find, I’ll have to be ready. Like I said, I felt good today, and we’re on the right path.”
Yesterday, you identified Honda and KTM as your main adversaries. And Suzuki?
“They’ll also be absolutely in the game. I watched them, and they have a scary third sector but, above all, they manage to discharge a lot of power in the first phase of acceleration. They’re almost as fast as we are in that phase. So they’ll be competitive, as well as Honda and KTM. I expect a good group race.”
It'll be Rossi’s first after the announcement of his retirement. How did you take the news?
“I didn’t know anything about it, so it surprised me, even though I figured it out on Thursday morning when the press conference was announced. I knew the news was in the air. It’s a shame, but I was lucky to have known him well and to have spent lots of time with him. Above all, I feel privileged to have been able to race together. He’ll always be my idol.”
