MotoGP, Ducati: and if Bagnaia were the right man for the title?

While on the one side there’s Jack Miller, on the up after back-to-back wins at Jerez and Le Mans, on the other side of the red garage is a rider who, together with Fabio Quartararo and Maverick Vinales, has completed all of the races run so far. We’re talking about Francesco Bagnaia of course.

He’s not pleased with his fourth-place finish at Le Mans, considering the mistakes made in selecting the tyres on Friday, which saw him starting 16th on the grid come race day. But it's also true that this was the Italian’s sixth wet race and his first with the flag-to-flag regime (as for Quartararo and Mir).

Fourth place was the most he could hope for in the circumstances, but considering he was in the process of catching Quartararo, lapping an average of 2” quicker than the Frenchman, #63 was doubly disappointed. The rider has really matured with respect to last year, the atmosphere in the Ducati garage also contributing to this turnaround it seems.

Consistency is key

Confirmation of his role as title contender, along with Quartararo, has come from none other than Marc Marquez who, during an interview with Sky said: “I think the championship will be between Quartararo and Bagnaia. Bagnaia is strong, consistent and doesn’t have the pressure of having to win the title at all costs”.

Consistency has been Bagnaia’s real strong point so far this season, seeing as he currently lies second in the standings without having even won a race. Now comes the important test, his home track of Mugello, where Ducati is the clear favourite despite a forecast of rain over the weekend.

Pecco still needs a win to prove his maturity and if he can do it at Mugello, it means that this could be the year we see Ducati on top come the end of the season, fourteen long years after its last title success.

Translated by Heather Watson

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