Pecco Bagnaia shares his thoughts ahead of the Jerez de la Frontera GP: “Beating Marquez? Winning this year will be even tougher.”
Francesco Bagnaia appeared calm and confident during the press conference for the Jerez Grand Prix. The rider from Chivasso, who has won the last three GPs in Andalusia, is naturally among the favorites for the first European race of the season.
Bagnaia shared his feelings about returning to Jerez during the official press conference: “Like every year, it’s always great to return to racing in Europe. There’s a different atmosphere — you feel more at home — and it’s something I really enjoy. Plus, this track suits our bike very well, so I can’t wait to get started.”
He also reflected on what happened a few months ago: “Of course, the conditions might be a bit different from the past, considering what happened here a few months ago. But I’m happy to be back on this track. I love it. The last three Grands Prix here have all brought different and intense emotions.”
“Last year the race was really tough, with an incredible final battle against Marc. He was very fast, pushing hard, and we fought until the last kilometer. This year, though, it’ll be even tougher. He’s grown a lot, he’s even more competitive now, and he feels more comfortable on the bike. This time, it’ll be up to me to raise the bar” , Bagnaia concluded.
Bagnaia: “Beating Marquez at Jerez? He can settle for second place”
Then came the question from independent media, particularly focused on the Bagnaia-Marquez duel: “Would beating Marquez here at Jerez be a turning point for your season?”
Here’s Pecco’s response: “I believe Marc is in a situation where he can afford to finish second without taking too many risks. But we know him — he’s not a rider who settles easily. That said, I’m here to give it my all. And if I do manage to win this Grand Prix, it will be thanks to the great work we’ve done since the beginning and to the consistent improvements we’ve made.”
“Right now, we need to stay focused on this race and our performance. If the opportunity comes, we won’t back down. The most important thing is that we’re improving race by race, and we need to keep going in this direction. “
Photo: Ducati Corse
