English
Italiano
After being defeated in yesterday's Sprint Race, Bagnaia had to react. Pecco can't settle for placings if he's expecting to take the title fight all the way to Valencia. He was forced to win, and that's what he did in Thailand, for the 9th time in a GP this year. In a wet race, he was able to manage risks and speed and reach his maximum goal.
"I'm very proud and happy. I want to dedicate this success to my team," he said. "This morning, after the warm-up, we sat down to analyze what had happened, because I was missing something in braking and entering corners. My team had good insight."
It showed in the race ...
"It's an important win for the championship but, especially from a mental aspect, it gives you confidence. I'm really happy."
Yesterday, Marquez said Martin had gained more than two points against you. Do you think you gained more than five points on him today?
"In the end, between fellow countrymen, we become allies, even if it works differently in Italy," he said, laughing. Martin gained two points yesterday, but because of a mistake of ours, and I gained five today, nothing more. On a mental level, this win is important for me. Jorge. on a difficult day. still finished the race in second place. It's a situation that's similar to last year in Japan when he won, and I came in behind him. It's an important vctory for us because, for the umpteenth time, although we were struggling, we were able to make the difference."
How did you react after yesterday?
"I don't let the results influence me. I know my potential perfectly well, and I know that, in the Sprint yesterday, we made a small mistake that didn't allow me to be able to be as competitive as I would've expected. It won't happen again. What happened? That's a pit secret," he laughed again. "Anyway, I never gave up. I was always convinced of our potential. I believe in myself and my team."
Martin isn't a quitter either ...
"We're the two strongest riders so, worst come to worst, you finish second or third. You have to try as hard as you can. I know that, even if I won all the races that are left, he would still be champion by always finishing second. But I don't really see that happening, both for me and for him. We'll see how it goes. How do I see Jorge in this season finale? As strong as ever."
<It's his ninth win of the year came.
"Fifteen with the Sprints, but I'm still seventeen points behind. What matters is the championship."
It's your first on wet.
"I've always lacked something to pull it off, even if I came close. After twenty years, I finally did it," he said laughing."
Didn't the rain worry you?
"It was my alarm clock this morning, beating on the roof of the hotel. On the way to the circuit, I crossed my fingers that it would stop, but that didn't work, and I had to accept it. I started out confident in the race. The warm-up was useful for understanding the situation and progressing. At this stage of the championship, I can't make mistakes. It's not easy and, when it's wet, it's even worse. I stayed focused and limited my risks."
You had to deal with a tough guy like Marquez.
"I knew how strong he was on the wet but also that I had good potential and an advantage in terms of grip coming out of the first and third corners. That helped me win. Fighting with Marc isn't easy, also because he was faster than me, but winning today was too important."
You responded twice to his overtakes.
"I was braking very hard at the last corner, so as not leave him much of a chance to attack me. I saw Martin lose the rear on the second to last, so I was keeping a little margin, and he was able to get closer. Marc was very close. I could hear the sound of his engine but, in a 90-degree corner, crossing the line to overtake isn't dangerous."
When did you realize he had fallen?
"Immediately, because there was a big screen at the exit of turn nine, and I saw him on the ground. The first thing I thought about was that I'd gain less than nine points on Martin. I knew Marc was faster than me, but I was going to try. At that moment, we were both pushing hard and, in some corners, the front tire was really at the limit."
You'll be in Sepang in a few days. Another track you count on a lot.
"Because I've always been very fast there. It has a lot of right-hand turns and hard braking. I could do my best. Then there's going to be Valencia. It's a bit different. Martin was really fast in 2022, I was in 2023 and, in 2021, we both fell. We'll see how it'll go this year."
