Bagnaia in Austria: “Unexpected… with an insect! Matching Schwantz, unbelievable”

Pecco Bagnaia’s words in Austria: “Martin strikes quickly, but I’m persistent. Austria is one of the toughest races, and then there was the insect…“​

Nothing seems to stop Pecco Bagnaia (except maybe an insect…). The Ducati rider, who claimed victory in both yesterday’s Sprint Race and today’s main race, once again proves why he’s a world-class champion. Today, he also made it into the top 10 of the most successful riders in MotoGP history.

Bagnaia now extends his lead to 5 points over his rival Jorge Martin in the championship. While this margin doesn’t leave him entirely at ease, having secured maximum points in Austria, the talent from Chivasso can’t help but be extremely pleased with his performance.

Pecco Bagnaia’s statements

Speaking to Sky Sport, Bagnaia reflected on his brilliant victory: “Equaling Schwantz’s wins? Honestly, I didn’t know. I don’t focus much on numbers. But it’s incredible: you grow up hearing about these legends, and to know that I’ve reached these figures today is truly unbelievable”.

“The race was very intense. I immediately tried to get out front because I knew I had a good pace. I aimed to go just a bit faster than Martin; he followed me, so towards the end of the race, I knew he wouldn’t have anything left. At the end, his pace slowed, and I tried to keep mine steady to open up a 2-second gap and then manage it, especially since the tires were wearing out. We did an excellent job, and I’m extremely happy”.

“In terms of what you have to manage while riding, this is one of the most challenging tracks. You need to manage the tires, change maps, control the ride height… It’s technically demanding, so maintaining such a rhythm feels good and gives you satisfaction”.

Then, the unexpected during the race: “Problems with the visor? An insect splattered right in front of my eyes; it was a crisis moment. The tear-off wouldn’t come off, and let’s just say I’ve had a few hiccups in recent races… but it’s all good. Martin? He strikes quickly after 6-7 long rallies, but I’m persistent and keep hitting hard all the time…”, Bagnaia concluded.

Photo: Ducati Corse