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Bagnaia has a foolproof plan to forget the pressure ahead of tomorrow's Sprint, in which he must finish ahead of Martin to keep the championship alive: "I've started the Bat-Mobile Lego, it's 1820 pieces and I'm well on my way to finishing it," was the revelation. Pecco seems relaxed, aware that he has nothing to lose. The only chance is to stay ahead of everyone and hope, exactly what he did today.
"I've never been interested in being first on Friday, the important thing is to be in the top 10, but it's good because it means we did well - he says - Honestly, I'm very happy with today's work, because we started with the May set-up, but the track is different. Aside from the cold, it is the grip that is different and we had to make changes on the bike that would allow me to be faster. We made the right decisions and I am also happy with the time attack, because I made the best time on the first lap and on this track it is not ideal. I feel ready for tomorrow, although I still have something else to do, like trying the hard tire up front. Michelin has done a good job bringing us all these options."
In the upper parts of the timesheets there are some different names than usual.
"There is a need for everyone to go very strong, I am happy that Bezzecchi is in front, a little less so that Espargarò is too (laughs). In the end, I think everyone will do their own race and I will try to win, that's what I have to do now."
You seem relaxed.
"In the end I learned! In 2022 I was in the easiest situation ever, because I was coming in with 24 points ahead, it would have been enough for me to finish 14th since there was no Sprint, and I still finished 9th, I didn't do my best. That race served as a lesson for me, last year I had no particular problems and now even less. I come in 24 points behind, the only thing I can do is win, kind of like in 2022 when I had to make up all those points from Quartararo. Being obliged to win puts you in a condition that makes you more serene, although I'm a little jealous of Martin, I would like to be in his place (laughs)."
Is Martin feeling the pressure?
"I don't know how he feels, but he used a different strategy. Usually he tries to bring the work on the tires forward, but today he didn't. I understand him, because coming to the last race for the first time with a real chance to win the title puts you in a very complicated situation. He feels the pressure for sure and sometimes it is difficult to handle, however, today he was good because he did 5th, he risked twice in turn 5 but he was always up there."
How much chance do you think you have for the final victory?
"In this world, percentages don't count much. Jorge has to make a mistake for me to win the title."
Did you start this GP weekend the way you wanted?
"When I start a weekend like this I am happy, not just today. We have only taken steps forward and everything is coming together for the best in terms of feeling with the bike."
Have you been working ahead of the Sprint?
"I rode a lot with the reduced capacity tank we use in the Sprint and I felt the usual problems, I'm struggling to stop the bike. We tried to make a few adjustments and were able to improve, but I need more."
The only hiccup was the crash after the practice start in FP1. What happened with Vinales?
"I think we both made a mistake. I came slow in the first corner because I had a very used rear tire and in the practice start it slipped a lot, so I didn't want to pull the gears to the limiter because we are at the limit with the engines. I heard Maverick coming from behind, but I never expected that he would be on the outside, on the kerb, with the bike sideways. I got scared and lost the front."
