Moto2 | Exclusive interview with Pecco Bagnaia: “Rossi? The strongest. Ducati? Moto2 will help"

Moto2 2018 – We exclusively interviewed Francesco Bagnaia, rider of the Sky Racing Team VR46 and VR46 Riders Academy rider.

With #42, leader of the world championship standings in the Moto2 class, we talked about various topics, from his start of the season to his next adventure in MotoGP, passing through Valentino Rossi and the tragedy that happened at the CEV, where in the Moto3 race he lost his life of 14 year old Andreas Pérez.

You are leader of the standings, did you expect this result?

“After the first tests we understood that we could be competitive. Then we got to the first race in Qatar and we won. We achieved three wins in the first five races, with four podiums. I am very happy with the work we are doing.”

How disappointed were you not to be on the podium in your home race at Mugello?

“Unfortunately I wasn't in good shape physically, it was already good to make quarters. I'm carrying some "aches" after the crashes in Austin and Le Mans, now I feel better."

Who are the toughest opponents today?

“Oliveira, Baldassarri and Marquez, the three of them are the most fearsome. Marquez is a little further back, then there's also Pasini.”

You already have a contract for the 2019 MotoGP (he will race in place of Danilo Petrucci in the Pramac Ducati Team), has this taken some pressure off you?

“Certainly having the contract already signed helped me a lot, also because the MotoGP market is currently experiencing a delicate phase. Having signed early I found myself in a perfect situation, a bit like Oliveira (who will race in MotoGP with a KTM).”

You've already tried the Ducati in a prize test, how do you see it from the outside?

“I believe that the Ducati is a particular bike and that Moto2 makes you ride the bike in that direction. The Moto2 is a bike that doesn't turn too much, which you have to turn with the brake and the gas. I should be fine, we'll see."

MotoGP and Ducati require greater physical effort than Moto2, have you already thought about changing training methods?

“For now I remain focused on Moto2, we have to continue the season, doing our best. It would be wrong to already think about MotoGP. Fortunately we will have 3 days of testing after Valencia and only then will I focus on the Top Class.”

Who do you think is the MotoGP favorite?

“The favorite is definitely Marquez, but in my opinion Vale (Rossi, ed.) can have his say, he has a great desire and if Yamaha supports him he will be able to fight. He is "scary", he lacks nothing, even though he is 39 years old he is the strongest there is, because in my opinion with the same bike there is none for anyone."

Did Lorenzo's signing with Honda surprise you?

“It didn't surprise me, I understood it when Pedrosa's signature was late in arriving. Now we need to understand what Dani will do, whether he will retire, or whether he will find another place."

What would you like to improve in “Bagnaia”?

“I would like to improve my approach when something goes a little wrong; take it more calmly, I'm working on it and we are already making progress.”

Moto3 is a very competitive class, especially this year. As someone who has raced in it, who do you see as the favourite?

“Bezzecchi and Martin are the two strongest. Martin is very strong in riding, but Bezzecchi manages to limit the damage in the riding part and then the KTM has a great engine. It will be a good battle.”

You are retracing the stages of Franco Morbidelli, always VR46 Riders Acadamy, Moto2, then MotoGP. How do you rate his debut in Top Class?

“He is certainly experiencing a difficult situation. You have a bike from last year and even the electronics are not what they say they are. Franco is really "scary" from my point of view, at Mugello he arrived directly in Q2. If next year he has a better package, in my opinion he will definitely be in the top six.”

A few days ago there was a tragedy at the CEV, where 14 year old Andreas Pérez lost his life in an accident. Maybe we are exaggerating in terms of age and above all in terms of number of starters?

“There were 46 drivers in the race, all very young and with little experience and this doesn't help. But I see it more as a fatality, it had to go like this..."