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There are some weekends that start well and continue even better, as if the rider is in a bubble where nothing can go wrong. This is what is happening with Bagnaia and it is no laughing matter when you think that he is at the Sachsenring, a track that in the past has reserved more pain than gain for Ducati. Today, however, he picked up his third watch of the season, the one that comes with pole position.
"I’ve been feeling great since the first free practice session, by Friday I had everything I needed and in fact I have not changed anything on the bike - Pecco declared - When that happens, everything becomes easier, you can concentrate on the tires and about the race. The conditions were not easy in qualifying, it was very hot and the wind had picked up, but I managed to be fast, on a track where I struggled last year ".
Aren’t you worried about the race at all?
"Let's say that if they decided to decrease the number of laps all the riders would agree (laughs). It won't be easy, not even choosing the tires, because the medium has more potential but drops more and the hard is the opposite, plus it doesn't take much to destroy the rear. "
Who will your rivals be?
“The two in the front row with me, Quartararo and Zarco, to which I add Aleix. I think we could open a gap, but to do that you need to be in the lead. However, I don’t have very clear ideas, because in FP4 we all used different tires and it is not easy to make predictions. Today I tried to push with the new tire, but the drop was greater than yesterday and tomorrow it will be even hotter ”.
What will be the most difficult challenge?
“Maintain concentration for 30 laps. Last year it was easier for me because I was starting from behind and had to recover, but when you are in front it is much harder. Then the heat, today it was 33°, more than in Jerez last year, tomorrow it will be 35 or 36. Fortunately it isn’t a humid climate, but it is a disaster for allergies".
Are you ready to face it?
“Ready… as normal (laughs). I am happy for the work we are doing and for the fact that we are strong on a track where we have struggled in the past. It's all thanks to the step forward I made at the end of last season, the start of this one was complicated, but when I sorted everything out, I restarted from there. Having been competitive in Barcelona and here too means a lot. It cannot be said that Ducati has an advantage on this track, but last year in FP1 I was last and yesterday 1st, this helps us to improve even more ”.
But Quartararo does not give up, he is always breathing down your neck.
“He is the world champion and it is right that he is, we must not be surprised. He fights to win".
You have to make up a lot of points, wouldn't it be better to keep the group together than to go away with him?
“No, if I find myself in the lead I will push and if I am second I will try to overtake as soon as possible whoever I have in front to do my own race. I don't like making strategies to keep the other riders close, that's not how I am ”.
Yesterday there was the Safety Commission, did the Stewards explain to you why they didn't take action with Nakagami?
"If that’s what they decided, it must have been the right choice, but no rider present agreed. When many riders say the same thing, they ought to listen to us ”.
