Francesco Bagnaia warns new Ducati “better in all areas”
Qatar MotoGP test leader Francesco Bagnaia says new Ducati "better in all areas compar♉ed to the GP23"
Reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia has warned that the 2024 Ducati ☂now feels “better in all areas” than last year’ꦗs machine.
The Italian will start his quest for a third premier-class♈ crown having b𒈔een quickest, with record-breaking lap times, during both the Sepang and Qatar tests.
Bagnaia began the final Qatar outing with a few lingering 💛doubts over the latest Ducati fairing and throttle connection, but left Lusail as the only rider to lap in the 1m 50s.
“What makes me most happy is the fe♐eling that I'm having with the b🌠ike,” Bagnaia told MotoGP.com. “Sometimes I was missing that last year.
“But this year my feeling💞 with the bike has increased. I think right n💟ow it's better in all areas compared to the GP23. So we can be very satisfied with the job done.”
Nonetheless, with team-mate Enea Bastianini second on the timesheets, Gresini'🍰s Marc Marquez in fourth and three Aprilias in the top six, Bagnaia insists he won’t be short of rivals.
“Aprilia also yesterday was fast and Marc did a good step in front in terms of time attack. I don't know🌸 the pace because I honestly didn't see anything, bu⛄t we will discover the potential of every rider in the race weekend,” he said.
“But for sure Aprilia, KTM, and all the D🦄ucatis are fast right now.
“Yamaha and Honda m🦋aybe need more time because the speed is there but they miss somethin✅g on traction I think.”
Average lap time during longer runs, Qatar Test - Day 2
- Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) 1m 52.106s (7 laps)
- Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) 1m 52.430s (7 laps)
- Fabio di Giannantonio (Ducati) 1m 52.533s (11 laps)
- Enea Bastianini (Ducati) 1m 52.541s (10 laps)
- Marco Bezzecchi (Ducati) 1m 52.951s (9 laps)
- Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) 1m 53.042s (10 laps)
- Brad Binder (KTM) 1m 53.224s (22 laps)
- Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) 1m 53.322s (17 laps)
- Takaaki Nakagami (Honda) 1m 53.544s (14 laps)
- Jack Miller (KTM) 1m 53.614s (8 laps)
- Alex Marquez (Ducati) 1m 53.693s (18 laps)
- Pedro Acosta (KTM) 1m 53.710s (18 laps*)
- Luca Marini (Honda) 1m 53.840s (14 laps)
- Johann Zarco (Honda) 1m 53.876s (10 laps)
- Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia) 1m 54.005s (10 laps)
- Augusto Fernandez (KTM) 1m 54.076 (13 laps*)
*Slow laps removed
Peter has🦹 been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injurꦛy issues.
