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“I'm not good at making headlines, but since you suggested it, 2024 is the year of truth”. Pecco Bagnaia smiles at Madonna di Campiglio after unveiling the new graphics of his GP24 (for the actual shape we will have to wait for the tests). The number 1 has remained on the fairing and the rider from Piedmont already knows what awaits him, with all the other riders whose sole objective will be to beat him. “I hope it's a different season from last, which wasn't easy - he reflects - I only crashed 7 times, but the problem is that 5 were in the race, it would be better to reduce the number a bit. I think this year, with 44 sprint and normal races, it will be very important to be consistent."
What's your plan?
“Always be at the top! (laughs). Joking aside, you have to have a strategy, a line to follow. Last year my preparation was perfect, but we had 3 weeks off in May and 5 in July. This season, however, we will only stop for a long time in the summer and there will also be WDW and my wedding!”
And there will also be to think about renewing the contract...
“We will see, but a future in red would be nice. I won't deny that Ducati and I are negotiating and both of us want to stay together."
Marc Marquez is arriving, many observers are waiting for a comparison between the two of you.
“The 2023 Ducati he will ride is a winning bike and certainly better than the one he was used to, we'll see. I experience it as a normal season, I know that there will always be something to talk about, and make a bit of noise about, and rightly so, but I think that the balance will remain the same. Marc will be on a competitive bike and I think he will be fast straight away, like those who preceded him in that team."
So do you think Martin will be your main rival again?
“I don't know, definitely he is a strong rider and he will be competitive, but it's too early to say. All the Ducati riders will be fast and I think Yamaha and Honda will take a step forward, as KTM and Aprilia already did last year."
Will the concessions to Honda and Yamaha change the balance?
“Having more tests will allow them to improve, they needed it, but from my point of view they shouldn't have reduced the number of tyres for the tests and wild cards for Ducati, I didn't understand why they did it. Also, now Yamaha will have Massimo Bartolini and he will be important for them. He was a fundamental figure in our team, I relied on him a lot and it is a huge shame that he has gone. However, it must be said that the person who will replace him (Nicolò Mancinelli, ed.) is very trustworthy and I am happy, I am convinced that we will be able to do a great job with him too".
From your point of view, where do you need to improve?
“I would like to find the level I had at the beginning of last season. After Barcelona I lost my explosiveness, in the last 2 or 3 races I recovered it, but I'm still missing something."
What does winning 2 world titles in MotoGP give you?
“The awareness that if you work well then the results will come. You have to stay focused and not get caught up in the excitement. Several times last year I was behind, from the outside there seemed to be alarm bells, but in the end we were always the best at preparing for the races."
What is the one mistake you shouldn't make after so many victories?
“Maybe underestimating the opponents or situations, but that's not my case. The ambition is to always do my best and achieve the results I set myself at the beginning of the year. Dedication and ambition will certainly remain the most powerful fuel there is."
Now let's talk about the GP24 that you tried for the first time in the Valencia tests.
“The GP23 was almost perfect, but also very difficult in some areas and on some Fridays I struggled. The big improvement was in those areas where Enea and I had asked to work on. In Valencia, where you don't feel much power, I felt something: it means that there has been a good evolution, but we will have to confirm everything in Sepang."
Is the top speed in MotoGP becoming too high?
"Reducing it wouldn't be right, we represent the pinnacle of motorbike engineering and taking it away is not correct: the more the better. We are continuing to work on safety and the circuits have improved a lot, but you can't increase it by reducing the speed, you would lift off later and we would be back to square one."
Ciabatti will no longer be the Sporting Director, what will change?
“I have a fantastic relationship and trust in Paolo, I will miss him a lot for sure. I also think that Mauro knows everything about Ducati, he will have to adapt, but I hope that I will be able to work with him like with Paolo."
The son of Cristian Gabarrini, your crew chief, has joined the VR46 Riders Academy, is your hand also in that?
“I saw Matteo years ago in a minibike race, and not because his father got involved. I had spoken to the Academy to try to give him a hand and in the end we managed to do it, I'm happy. I think he is a very strong rider and needs a structure to grow in the best way. He's cool, he doesn't demand anything and he's very hungry, the right attitude, it's been a while since I've seen a rider with a desire like that."
