Bagnaia: “I’m human and I’m starting to feel a little pressure”

Despite a fall in FP3 and Q2, Francesco Bagnaia can be happy with his Saturday in Malaysia since he qualified ninth ahead of his two main rivals for the title, fabio quartararo and Aleix Espargaro. 

A first line was playable according to “Pecco”, but a fall decided otherwise. “The only good things today were FP4 and Q1,” he said. In FP4, I was very consistent and fast with a worn rear tire. I did everything to try to bounce back, because this morning I was too nervous about what happened with Franco and Fabio. After an hour, I told myself that these are things that can happen to anyone. I'm human and I'm starting to feel a little pressure. I think it's normal. »

And added: “In qualifying, I was not intelligent enough to understand that my pace was sufficient for a front row without forcing too much. I pushed too hard at turn 4, I lost the front. I was motivated by the fact that I was more than 0.150s ahead in the first sector (…) this was the biggest mistake. »

If he has the chance, Bagnaia will try to finish the “job” on Sunday. Otherwise, he will try to grab a few more points in the championship to put himself a little more sheltered ahead of the final in Valencia. “I will try to do the best possible,” he explains. I'm able to do things tomorrow, so I'll be happy about that. It wouldn't be good to force myself. If I widen the gap a little tomorrow, then we will arrive in Valencia with, of course, more pressure, but a bigger gap. It will be important to be smart tomorrow. »

Ducati: stricter instructions?

No less than four Ducatis will appear in front of Bagnaia on the grid on Sunday. More than ever, Bagnaia expects a little helping hand from his counterparts. “I think that if they have the possibility of winning, they will try, as always,” he moderates. Tomorrow will be the day where we will need some team instructions, but we will see. It will be important to be at the front, that's for sure, but we have to be smart first. ".