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Pecco Bagnaia today had as his only objective the victory in the Grand Prix at Sepang and he succeeded in the feat after also giving rise to a fantastic duel with Jorge Martìn in the early stages of the race. However, Pecco soon imposed his pace trying to create a gap and resigned himself to seeing Jorge finish behind him, with no rival able to bother him and maybe take away some points. Now the two are heading toward the grand finale in Barcelona separated by 24 points and certainly the title is in Martìn's hands more than Pecco's. But anything can still happen.
"We know that Sunday is never a problem, while Saturday is - were Bagnaia's words - We have to improve and I will try to do it right away. I know there is balance work to be done in my opinion, because the only thing different is the tank. So we will try to do something different, we will talk about it. I've had this feeling since the beginning of the year, we always talk about it but it's hard to find a real solution. We will try to do something."
With what mentality do you fly to Barcelona?
"I go to Barcelona to win everything there is to win, also to put pressure to try to win the title. We know very well how many 24 points it is, it's really a lot. It's very difficult, but we will try until the end."
A good duel with Jorge today, we were missing something like that.
"It was good with Jorge, a good aggressive and fair duel. I wish I could do them on Saturday as well, because in the end I think I could have done it yesterday as well, but we lacked something to be able to do it. I think we gave the fans a great show. Jorge was very aggressive, but all the duels were fair and we never touched each other. I was just waiting for the right moment to attack playing on my pace, because I knew it was better than his today and that would allow me to open a gap. After that I was just hoping to see Enea or Marc maybe gain something on Jorge and pass him to take some points away. But today I think we both showed again why we are doing a different job than everyone else. This is unbelievable in my opinion, we are putting in incredible performances, thanks to the bikes for sure, but I also think that we are doing something that leaves you speechless."
At the beginning of the race did you think about slowing down to let your rivals get closer and get in the middle?
"I'm not the kind of person to play games like that, I was just enjoying the race. In any case, even if they had caught up with us at that time, I wouldn't have liked that. It's not my thing, I don't think it's the right way to try to win. I'm a clean rider and a true sportsman. I would never have slowed down to let others get closer."
It's not just up to you in Barcelona.
"I have a chance for sure, but of course I would need someone else's help. Even if I were to win both races, I know he could finish second no problem, because we are on another level. But I'm going to try, maybe offer my slipstream to anyone to make sure someone qualifies ahead of Jorge! I know that in Barcelona Aleix Espargarò will also be strong and he will certainly help Jorge, but I would also need someone to get in between me and Jorge."
Do you think Martin will suffer the pressure in Barcelona?
"For the math, everything is still possible, although I know perfectly well how difficult it is to get to this point. In Barcelona, however, anything can happen; I crashed in the Sprint Race this year just as I was trying to avoid any mistakes. The same thing can happen to anyone. The conditions also will be difficult, because we will find it colder than what we are used to in Barcelona. It will be important to try to be competitive, but also to be very calm."
Despite this being a very tough fight, you two seem to be on very good terms. But is that really the case?
"It's easy for me. I am not the kind of person who wants to be nice off the track and then rough on the track, aggressive, pushing my rivals out. I am not like that and I will never be like that. If Jorge were to start doing that with me, maybe I would change my attitude, but he in my opinion behaves the same way. There is so much respect between us, I think that's the point. I don't think you have to be enemies off the track or anything like that. I like more that there is this relationship."
Today you joined a very small club, the club of riders who have won at least 10 races in MotoGP in one season. There are some very impressive names.
"I feel proud, but I think I also have another record, which is to be the only rider to have won 10 races who is not leading the world championship!"
How do you give your all just when the pressure is on the limit?
"Maybe it sounds strange, but today I didn't feel under pressure. I felt comfortable on the bike right away, in every situation. The problem that happens to me in the Sprint Race, which I then always suffer from, is that I can't follow too closely those ahead of me, I always have to leave a gap of a few tenths. I can't brake hard, can't enter the corners well. We still don't know why it happens, but it does. In terms of mental approach, I wasn't worried at all about today, I knew what I had to do and I was ready to do it."
The summary of the season?
"I would say Saturdays are shit while I love Sundays."
You are not going to race in Valencia, but you still go to Spain. How do you see it?
"I still say that racing in Spain is not the best, but at least we won't be in Valencia, where the situation is unfortunately getting worse. It's not something you forget, it's right to race somewhere else. Barcelona is a track that can give so much but also take so much away. We know how critical it is and how easy it is to make mistakes there. It will be crucial to do everything right, I have very good and very bad memories there."
