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Pecco Bagnaia's Sprint at Jerez lasted a handful of laps. In turn 1, the world champion in fact ended up on the ground following Binder's entry on the kerb and then caromed over Bezzecchi and found himself on the asphalt.
For the Ducati rider it is the second knockout after the one a month ago in Portimao and the bitterness is great, if we consider that it was the World Championship leader, namely Jorge Martin, who won.
"To date, in seven races held, I have ended up on the ground twice due to contact and it is certainly not the best start to the season, but I am of the idea that the wheel turns for everyone - he began - in the end the decision is up to the Stewards and they will be right since it is their job. In my opinion, however, a rider cannot pass two on the curb as Binder did, since there was no space. We had only done two laps and before mine there had already been two contacts. I would say the strategy was over the line."
Apparently the Jerez Sprint replayed some of the dynamics already seen at the beginning of last season.
"We are back on a track where there were two red flags last year. In the end this is a tight track with slow corners and all that leads you to have more contact."
On Pecco's part, the bitterness is great for the wasted opportunity.
"Sprint leads riders to be out of their minds. Today I was fifth and I was faster than those ahead of me. I just wanted to figure out when to attack, but I didn't have time. The fact is that on some occasions it becomes difficult to overtake, because in Sprint overtaking is not calculated, you jump in and touch the other driver sending him wide. That's the strategy and it's difficult to manage, as sometimes the riders in front make strange lines."
The fact remains that for Bagnaia, Saturday proved to be uphill right from qualifying.
"Qualifying didn't go too well and when the asphalt started to dry I struggled more. In the race, however, I was fifth, attached to the group of riders fighting for victory, but you have to have the chance to try. Now, however, I want to think about Sunday. Tomorrow you have to start better, trying to remove yourself from the animal fight that is created in the early stages, then trying to make your own pace, thanks to which you can think about winning."
The last consideration concerns the technical aspect.
"Here in Jerez I made an important change on the Ducati in terms of set-up compared to the last race. I think thanks to this change I can be competitive. I also decided to continue using the 2023 version fork, the same one brought to the track in Austin. The fork from last season is shorter and gives me more support than the longer one from the first races."
Picking up his words is then Enea Bastianini.
"Today the conditions were really strange, but I expected it because I know Jerez - he said - when I fell at 5 I couldn't do anything about it, although I tried to raise the bike. That said, I don't think I have anything to reproach myself for, since the fall was inevitable. Too bad, because the podium was within reach and I was having a good race."
Enea then explains what happened.
"There was a wet patch, which on the first lap was smaller and then got bigger. When I saw it I couldn't do anything about it. So we are thinking about tomorrow with the goal of being competitive and evaluating the soft for the race. I want to be positive about the step forward made today and I am of the opinion that the changes made on the bike worked."
Automatic Translation by DeepL
