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The final act of the 2024 season, the third and final episode of "Dream On: Ducati and Bagnaia's Pursuit of Glory," the documentary on the season finale of Bagnaia and the official Ducati team, is dedicated to the Barcelona Solidarity GP. A race held out of solidarity for the Valencian Community, but also Pecco's last chance to snatch the title from his direct rival and championship leader Jorge Martin, and confirm himself as MotoGP World Champion for the third consecutive year.
"We have to do what we always do: have fun and win," was the spirit of the rider from Piedmont, forced to play catch-up because of the many zeros accumulated over the course of the year: "In a season you can't afford all these mistakes, but it makes me very proud to be able to say we have won ten races. There is one more to go and we will try to win this one as well."
A round, the one in Catalunya, in which there was no shortage of tense moments, such as the crash in which Bagnaia took a tumble at the end of FP1, surprised by Vinales after not the best start. "I was braking, he sucked me in and I lost the front. Holy shit, I can't even try a start anymore! I can't believe I hurt myself like that," was the on-the-spot comment from the Italian, who then managed to regain the right calm and serenity with which to face the last, decisive part of the weekend.
The plan to follow was clear: "We don't have many strategies: try to make the pole position, win the Sprint race and the race on Sunday, we have no alternatives and Pecco can do it. We are calm and confident in Pecco's abilities," explained the team manager, Davide Tardozzi, who throughout the weekend always tried to keep his rider calm: "We try to win. Pecco, the world does not end here."
A program followed to the letter by Bagnaia, who was able to keep the title fight open until the last race, triumphing in the Sprint with Martin in third. "I was counting the points difference while we were there, but we can't do more than that. We're going significantly faster than everyone else and I'm not going to slow the others down, that's clear. What will be, will be," were Pecco's words after Saturday's race, showing the great sportsmanship that distinguished him until the very end. Even after losing the title despite taking his 11th victory of the season: "My victory is important, but Jorge is the one who really made the difference."
A defeat that stings, but one that was cashed in with honor. "It bothers me of course, however, I am serene because I know what rider we have, what we can do and what bike we will have," Tardozzi concluded, "So, I am quite calm that the number one will return.
