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"Just a few small details are missing for the renewal of Bagnaia, the goal is to announce it before the Qatar race", were words of Paolo Ciabatti to Sky TV's microphones (video below). The signing of a new contract is in the pipeline and when we reported the words of the Ducati director to Pecco, a smile appeared on his face.
“Let’s hope so – was his reply - I can’t hide the fact that we work well together and we want each other. It's nice that it is like this". Last year the rider from Piedmont became the jewel in the crown for Borgo Panigale and they don’t want to let him escape, Bagnaia wants a future in the red team as well, so just a few more weeks and the marriage can continue.
Meanwhile, Pecco is busy at Mandalika and his confidence in the GP22 is growing day by day.
"Today I took another step forward - he said at the end of the day which he finished with the 10th fastest time - We are not yet 100%, the potential of the new bike is higher, I would say that we are at 80%. We only have one more day of testing left, but we have already found something that could help us for the first race in Qatar. Also today I was among the fastest on the pace, in the morning I worked with the medium tyre at the rear, lapping constantly in 1'32.7/8, in the afternoon I put on the soft one and the difference between my last lap and the best was just two tenths. I was competitive”.
How much compared to his rivals, however, is difficult to say.
“In the tests it is always difficult to understand the general level - he explained - Today a lot of riders put on two or three new tyres for the time attack, my strategy was different. Like Marquez, Pol Espargarò and Mir, I concentrated on the pace, doing a quick lap is pointless, if only to regain confidence. The important thing is to be consistent and today I succeeded, last year I worked a lot on this point and I'm happy that the GP22 allows me to continue to be so ".
If there is one expression to define Bagnaia in these winter tests, it is that he is self-confident.
"It is normal that I am confident because I have total confidence in Ducati and I am that we will arrive at the first race in Qatar with the best possible package" he assured.
There we will find out who he will have to contend with…
“I saw the Hondas were very fast on this track - continued Pecco - We still need to understand two or three things, which is why I am doing many laps: only today 83, my record in a test! I'm sure that if the first race were tomorrow, I would already be competitive, if anything the problem here in Mandalika would be the stones that the bikes throw up… Today one hit me and it hurts ”.
