ADVERTISEMENT
  • Privacy Politics
  • Contacts
Thursday, November 21, 2024
  • Login
Motorcycle Sports
  • MotoGP
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • MotoE
    • Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
  • WSBK
    • WSSP
    • WSSP300
  • Motocross
    • AMA 250 MX
    • AMA 450 MX
    • MXGP
    • MX2
    • Supercross
      • AMA 250 SX
      • AMA 450 SX
      • WSX
  • Enduro
    • EnduroGP
    • Hard Enduro
    • SuperEnduro
  • BSB
  • Motorcycle News
    • Reviews
  • Rally
    • Dakar
  • PREMIUM
  • English
    • English
    • Español
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • Login
    • Pricing
    • Register
    • Account
No Result
View All Result
  • MotoGP
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • MotoE
    • Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
  • WSBK
    • WSSP
    • WSSP300
  • Motocross
    • AMA 250 MX
    • AMA 450 MX
    • MXGP
    • MX2
    • Supercross
      • AMA 250 SX
      • AMA 450 SX
      • WSX
  • Enduro
    • EnduroGP
    • Hard Enduro
    • SuperEnduro
  • BSB
  • Motorcycle News
    • Reviews
  • Rally
    • Dakar
  • PREMIUM
  • English
    • English
    • Español
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • Login
    • Pricing
    • Register
    • Account
No Result
View All Result
Motorcycle Sports
No Result
View All Result
Home Featured

Pecco Bagnaia Needs a Miracle at Barcelona: ‘I Won’t Play Dirty to Win MotoGP Title’

by Carl Harrison
November 13, 2024
in Featured, MotoGP
112 1
0
Pecco Bagnaia Needs a Miracle at Barcelona: ‘I Won’t Play Dirty to Win MotoGP Title’
136
SHARES
2.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Bagnaia Calls for ‘Clean Racing’ as He Hopes for an Unlikely Comeback Against Jorge Martin in the MotoGP Finale

Pecco Bagnaia heads into the final round of the 2024 MotoGP season needing nothing short of chaos to have a shot at dethroning Jorge Martin. After a costly crash in the Sepang Sprint race, Bagnaia now finds himself 24 points behind Martin—a gap too wide to close on his own. With Barcelona looming as the high-stakes showdown, Bagnaia openly admits he needs a miracle but insists he won’t resort to unsportsmanlike tactics to get it.

At the Malaysian Grand Prix, Bagnaia battled fiercely with Martin for the lead, trading positions multiple times over just three laps. He had hoped to see rivals like Marc Marquez and Enea Bastianini challenge Martin, potentially disrupting his points haul. But when Marquez crashed and Bastianini fell short on pace, Bagnaia’s plan unraveled, leaving him to fend off Martin alone.

“I know that we’re both on another level right now,” Bagnaia admitted. “Even if Jorge slowed down, he still finished seven seconds ahead of third.” The two Ducati riders’ dominance has made it difficult for Bagnaia to find help on track, and with few riders able to keep up, his hopes of someone slipping between him and Martin at Barcelona appear slim.

In a sport where high-stakes title races can tempt riders into strategic games, Bagnaia has remained adamant that he won’t stoop to controversial tactics. “I’m a clean guy and a true sportsman,” he stated, shooting down any notion that he would intentionally hold Martin back to improve his own chances. “I want to win in a fair way—that’s not what I’d do.”

Bagnaia’s admission highlights the challenge he faces. In past championship battles, riders have tried backing rivals into the pack to increase points vulnerability. In 2013, Jorge Lorenzo attempted this against Marc Marquez, and just this year, Maria Herrera employed it to try to unseat Ana Carrasco in the WorldWCR final—falling short by one corner. But Bagnaia dismissed any comparison, saying his focus was on controlling his own pace without overheating his tires.

Barcelona’s circuit, however, is far from a straightforward race for Bagnaia. Historically challenging for Marquez and Bastianini, it’s unlikely either will have the pace to pressure Martin. And while Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro won the Sprint there earlier this season, his friendship with Martin means he may not be motivated to disrupt the title fight.

Adding to the intrigue, Bagnaia’s final laps in Sepang raised eyebrows when he slowed enough to let Martin gain, leading some to wonder if he was baiting Martin into chasing him—a tactic that could have forced a mistake. Bagnaia downplayed it, explaining he’d simply switched to a more conservative power setting. “I changed the power delivery map, but it was too conservative,” he said. “So, I switched back and could go a bit faster.”

As for Martin, he’s taking no chances. Despite a tempting shot at victory in Malaysia, he backed off after Marquez’s crash, prioritizing second place and the points it offered. “I thought about it! Like, ‘He wants me to try!’” Martin recalled, only to realize the risks outweighed the reward. “That’s enough—second is perfect,” he concluded.

For Bagnaia, the final chapter of the season is out of his hands. “We still have a chance,” he said. “But we need a lot of help.” With a clean but fierce race ahead, Bagnaia will rely on whatever Barcelona’s tricky layout might throw at his rival, hoping for a last-minute twist in this heated MotoGP title battle.

Tags: Ducati TeamFrancesco BagnaiaMotoGP
Share54Tweet34

Recommended For You

Provisional entry list for the 2025 Moto3 World Championship revealed with two seats yet to be filled

by Bernardo Matias
November 20, 2024
0
Lista provisória de inscritos no Mundial de Moto3 revelada com duas vagas por preencher

The provisional entry list for the 2025 Moto3 World Championship was published on Wednesday, although it is still incomplete. There are two vacancies to be filled in the...

Read moreDetails

‘It was good to finally have four riders; it’s great’ – Fabio Quartararo

by Bernardo Matias
November 20, 2024
0
‘Foi bom finalmente ter quatro pilotos, é ótimo’ – Fabio Quartararo

The MotoGP test day in Barcelona left Fabio Quartararo feeling encouraged. The Monster Energy Yamaha rider finished in second place, but more importantly, he saw practical results from...

Read moreDetails

‘We have a magical thing, and we need to use it in the best way’ – Franco Morbidelli

by Bernardo Matias
November 20, 2024
0
‘Temos algo mágico e precisamos de o usar da melhor maneira’ – Franco Morbidelli

Franco Morbidelli completed his first day as a Pertamina Enduro VR46 rider during the MotoGP test in Barcelona. This session allowed him to begin working with the team,...

Read moreDetails

Ducati has no regrets about letting Jorge Martín «Slip away»

by Bernardo Matias
November 20, 2024
0
Ducati não se arrepende de ter deixado «escapar» Jorge Martín

Ducati chose not to promote Jorge Martín to its factory team for the 2025 MotoGP season, resulting in the rider moving to Aprilia while Ducati brought in Marc...

Read moreDetails

Miguel Oliveira’s first impression of the inline-four engine

by Bernardo Matias
November 20, 2024
0
A primeira impressão de Miguel Oliveira sobre o motor de quatro cilindros em linha

After competing on KTM and Aprilia bikes in MotoGP, Miguel Oliveira is now set to experience an inline four-cylinder engine for the first time with Yamaha. The Portuguese...

Read moreDetails
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Motorcycle Sports

© 2023 Motorcycle Sports - Premium news & magazine MotorcycleSports.

Navigate Site

  • Privacy Politics
  • Contacts

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • MotoGP
    • Moto2
    • Moto3
    • MotoE
    • Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
  • WSBK
    • WSSP
    • WSSP300
  • Motocross
    • AMA 250 MX
    • AMA 450 MX
    • MXGP
    • MX2
    • Supercross
      • AMA 250 SX
      • AMA 450 SX
      • WSX
  • Enduro
    • EnduroGP
    • Hard Enduro
    • SuperEnduro
  • BSB
  • Motorcycle News
    • Reviews
  • Rally
    • Dakar
  • PREMIUM
  • English
    • English
    • Español
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • Login
    • Pricing
    • Register
    • Account

© 2023 Motorcycle Sports - Premium news & magazine MotorcycleSports.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
x