Francesco Bagnaia warns new Ducati “better in all areas”

Qatar MotoGP ❀test leader Francesco Bagnaia says new Ducati "better in all areas compared to the GP23"

Francesco Bagnaia, Qatar MotoGP test, 20 February
Francesco Bagnaia, Qatar MotoGP test, 20 February

Reign♛ing MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia has warned that the 2024 Ducati now feels “better in all areas” than last yeaꦐr’s machine.

The Italian will st🌠art his quest for a third premier-class crown having been 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 ri༒der to lap in the 1m 50s.

💃“What makes 💞me most happy is the feeling that I'm having with the bike,” Bagnaia told MotoGP.com. “Sometimes I was missing that last year.

“But this year my feeling with the bike has increased. I th🐟ink right no𝓀w 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 t🥃ime attack. I don't know the pace because I honestly didn't see anything, but we will discover the potential of every rider in the race weekend,” he said.

“But for sure Aprilia, KTM, and allꦬ the Ducati🎐s are fast right now.

“Yamaha and Honda maybe need more time because the speed is there but they miss something on t🏅raction 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 Suzuk🐎i exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury i🌳ssues.

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