Not once does Bagnaia utter the words 'Michelin' and 'tires,' but it is very clear what he is referring to when he talks about his problems in the Aragon Sprint. After a good qualifying (3rd place on the grid) Pecco appeared unrecognizable in the race and the difficulties in riding his Ducati were plain for all to see. A single point for ninth place was all he managed to get and he lost the championship lead to Martin, who is now 3 points ahead of him. It was a total disaster, which started with a very bad getaway from the line at the start.
"The first thing I asked for yesterday in the Safety Commission was to clean the start line - Bagnaia began - Maybe they did, but it rained and they should have done it again anyway. As soon as I arrived on the grid I saw how dirty it was, I tried to prevent what happened, I released the clutch more slowly, but nothing changed. I was lucky that Alex Marquez was able to avoid me, otherwise it would have been very dangerous. I just tried not to lose positions, and in the end I didn't even lose that many."
The real problems started later....
"I got to turn 5, tried to pass Oliveira, and I realized that something wasn't working. The front wheel was locking when I was leaning using some brake, I was losing so much, I couldn't get the bike into the corners, it was a tough race."
What happened?
"Simply what had already happened yesterday morning in FP1 happened. It is something beyond our capacity, beyond what we can do on bike, it is out of our control. It is something random."
From what you say it sounds like a tire problem, from Michelin did you get any answers?
"I did not say anything about Michelin, in any case we will have a confrontation later. I can only say that this problem did not stem from me, the bike or the work of the team."
However, when you returned to the box you made the '2' sign with your fingers to your Michelin technician...
"I was just waving at him (laughs)."
This is not the first time these problems have happened....
"This time I had the same bad feeling in the front end twice in the same weekend and it is something that should not happen."
Was pressure and temperature under control?
"Pressure and temperature were perfect."
It sounds like what had happened last year to Martin in Qatar.
"It also happened to me on Saturday in that GP, it's something similar. It's something out of our control."
Without that problem, could you have tried to contrast Marquez?
"My ambition is to always try to win, but to be realistic my potential was to fight with Martin, we had a very similar pace. Marc is succeeding in something that comes very complicated to all the other riders. Definitely I would have tried to follow him, maybe bother him, anyway it went like this. With Jorge, on the other hand, I could have done it."
At least you got the better of Bezzecchi on the last lap....
"I had a good help from my 'big engine' (laughs). I tried everything, even a point is important, championships can be won for that too."
How does Marquez make so much difference at this track?
"He does 3 or 4 turns in a different way than all the other Ducati riders, but not in terms of trajectories. He leans 5° more without losing the front, only he can do that, I think because of his riding style, he has a control of the bike that helps him. He makes the difference there. I've tried to do that myself, but I lose the front and consequently the rear. It's something that doesn't come from the bike, but from the rider."
What is the goal tomorrow?
"It is to try to bother Marc and it will all depend on the start. Maybe I'll exploit the tires a little more in the first few laps and then we'll see what can happen. Everything has to go smoothly, though; the best me and the best Ducati will be necessary to try to challenge him. My goal, though, is Martin. Today I lost eight points, tomorrow I will have to try to gain some back."