English
Italiano
Bagnaia's victory at the Red Bull Ring has something special. Because Pecco won for the third time in a row on the Austrian circuit, because after just 11 GPs he has already equaled his record of 7 seasonal victories, because he has entered by rights among the greats of MotoGP. With 25 MotoGP wins, he is in the Top 10 all-time winningest riders in the premier class, tied with Kevin Schwantz. When this is pointed out to him, he squints, "you grow up with myths, legends, and now to see my name next to theirs is crazy."
But true, like the seven wins in 11 races.
"I equaled my season record, but I only have a 5-point lead in the championship. So there's more to work on."
Does so many wins and so little lead make you angry?
"Anger serves little purpose, it's more the knowledge that we lost points in the Sprints, where Jorge is making a difference. In the last few races we had found some consistency, which I lost in Silverstone by crashing. We know where we need to work, though."
You said the challenge against Martin is like a boxing match: you won this round.
"I was playing at home here, I felt fast right away, from Friday. Jorge was too, but I was able to open a gap in the middle of the race and it wasn't easy because of the consumption of the rear tire. I had a lot of confidence with the front, though, and that allowed me to compensate."
Was that the key?
"I was just trying to wait until I found traction, otherwise the rear would slip too much. We worked a lot on the electronics this weekend and took a lot of traction control off, being able to control more with the wrist made it easier to handle."
In your team they are amazed at how you always manage to put your plans into action.
"I always try to do my best, a plan is something that directs you but it doesn't always work. Here I knew it would be crucial to put myself in front right away and I tried. Today Jorge's defense was quieter, I think because of what had happened to him in the Sprint by going long. When I went to the lead, I tried to brake as hard as I could to not let him pass me and manage the rear tire as much as possible. That's what saved me in the middle of the race, when Martin raised his times I was able to control."
Was the risk in losing concentration?
"No, it's hard for me to lose it. I just tried to do everything perfectly. There was only one moment when I got upset because I couldn't get the tear-off off the visor, I had a bug splattered right in the middle."
Didn't you even worry about the black clouds?
"When I saw the clouds, I just hoped it wouldn't rain because in those conditions you never know what can happen. The last time there had been a flag-to-flag I had come into the pits with four laps to go to change tires and lost the race. I hoped it wouldn't come but ... there was no smell of rain (laughs)."
Against Martin you fight point by point, but your relationship does not seem to have changed.
"When there is respect, the fight is only on the track. We have known each other for a very long time, and I have never understood those drivers who change their attitude during the season. It's true that when you fight for the title, things change a little bit, but the respect must remain, like last year."
Rossi was trackside, was that a help?
"It is always important to have Vale with us, but we also talk a lot when he is at home because I need to know his point of view. When he is at the track he is more focused on his team, but in the evening we see each other. Before the race he simply told me to repeat what he did yesterday, while afterwards he was just happy, also because Celestino had won his first GP of the year and was in a difficult moment. I think it was a beautiful weekend for the Academy."
Did you watch the Moto2 race?
"I was very nervous. I always get nervous when I watch Moto2 and when Celestino is in the front even more. Especially when you see the Pirellis, which have incredible grip, move like that on corner entry. He was incredible as well."
Marquez, on the other hand, had problems with triggering the lowerer, is it that complicated?
"The problem is the harder suspension setting: you have to be aggressive in braking to engage it, but then soft in releasing the brake lever, otherwise it's easy to come off.Yesterday, before the Sprint, I had to repeat the maneuver 3 times to lock it and today two, in those moments you get nervous because you have little time to do it. Only Jorge does it every time on the first hit on the starting box and I get scared for him (laughs)."
Now there is a week off, then the Aragon GP and the two at Misano.
"Two years ago in Aragon I had a great battle with Enea and he won on the last lap, so I would like to have my revenge (laughs). Last year in Misano Martin was unbeatable, so I would like a rematch there as well. However, they are two tracks I like, where I have won in the past, and it will be important to get the maximum."
In Misano there will also be testing, is there anything planned?
"We will have something to test, I don't think it's something new, but some material that we need to do more kilometers with to understand better. The bike is the same from the beginning of the season."
Automatic Translation by DeepL
