Bagnaia against team instructions: “I prefer to win regularly on the track”

This is the central question for this end of the championship: will Ducati use team instructions to favor Francesco Bagnaia in the championship? The Italian brand, crowned constructors' champion at the Spanish round at MotorLand, has not yet used this stratagem to help his Italian pilot… until when?

The Bologna motorcycles, who monopolize the first places in the standings race after race, could hinder the fantastic comeback of “Pecco” Bagnaia in his fight against fabio quartararo. In Aragon, Enea Bastianini even stole victory from the official Ducati rider on the last lap. Five points lost for the Turin player which could be costly for the title.

On the side of those mainly concerned, the team instructions are not really well received. Francesco Bagnaia, the potential beneficiary of these “team orders”, is not in favor of their use. At a press conference, the Italian spoke out against it. “Honestly, I don’t think I need help to be in front, declared the vice-world champion. I prefer to win consistently on the track, and not because another driver let me pass. But either way, that hasn’t happened this season. I said it, my desire is to do what I want to do. If [Ducati] decides to do something different, it won't be about me. For my part, I drive, I try to be at the front and I try to win. This is my main objective, as I did in Aragon or Misano. »

Bastianini wants to play his luck to the fullest

If Francesco Bagnaia has made up a large part of his gap on Quartararo (10 points separate the two drivers before the Japanese Grand Prix), Ducati would like not to take any risks and play the team instructions card at the end of the championship.

One of the pilots who would be targeted by orders from the Bologna firm could be… Enea Bastianini, future pilot for the red house. The native of Rimini, 4th in the championship with 48 points behind the French leader, still has some hopes for the title. “I have not received any team instructions from Ducati at the moment, confided the Gresini driver. It's a good thing because I also have a small chance of winning the championship. I have to use this chance to give 100% during the race. In the last part of the championship, we will see if I will receive instructions, but for the moment, I am not stressed. »

It remains to be seen whether Ducati will respect the opinion of its riders on the latest Grands Prix or, on the contrary, play it safe to ensure a first rider title since Casey Stoner in 2007.

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