Francesco Bagnaia describes “aggressive” Ducati acceleration, Enea Bastianini admits “this is the first time I have worked a lot in the box” at MotoGP Sepang test
Defending MotoGP champion Bagnaia was fifth-fastest on the first day of the preseason Sepang test, while new factory Ducati teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Enea Bastianini was third-quickest.
Last year, Bagnaia and his bike started slowly before picking up performance in the latter stages of the s♛eason en route to claiming the title - this year, he believes Ducati are already giving themselves a better chance of dominating from the first round in Portimao.
“I was focused on the new engine and the fairing today, because these are the biggest things ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚto try,” Bagnaia said. “I am happy with the work done.
“This morning I did laps with the new bike. This afternoon I was focused, with usedꦜ tyres, to using old-new, old-new, old-new. 𓄧To understand the level of the new one. Because the old one is a bike from 2020.
“The new one has great things but the acceleration is a bit aggressive. The old one was so, so smooth. So we are focused on understa✱nding what I have to do. My approach today was just to understand, to change myself on the bike.
“The fairing was the꧃ same thing. It is totally d𒁃ifferent, a different effect on the ground, so you have to do a different thing when riding.
“It was better in the braking, this is already a good thing for Ducati. In the long corners, I have toꦜ understand. It is good to test here because there are a lot of long corners. There is great potential.
“There are more positives than negatives. We have tওwo more days to understand everything. Compared to last year we can be happy with the first day.
“I think, in this moment, we have started s🍰o much better. Looking at the lap times? The🀅y are a lot better.
“But we have to work a lot. I am happ𝓡y but I don’t want to be too positive.”
Bagnaia revelled in displaying his new plate: “I was looking forwards to riding with #1, to seeing myself in pictures with it! It has been a lonᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚg time since I had #1. I am looking forwards to seeing videos and images of myself with the #1! It is wonderful, I love it.”
Bastianini is the newcomer in the factory Ducati team having earned a promotion from Gresini Racing. Last year, only Bagnaia woꦺn more races thaꦯn Bastianini. In 2023 Bastianini will have his own championship ambitions but has already admitted the increased responsibility of a factory seat.
“This is the first ti🍸me Iඣ have worked a lot in the box,” he said. “And the first impact was good.
“Today, I had the same set-up as in Valenc💧ia. The same spec. But we have to try the new bike. Tomorrow I will try more. Today I rode the 2022 bikes m൲ore.
“It is most important to be p🌞repared for the race.
“The potential of the new bike is good so I am 🦄confident.
“It is better. For me, it has a little bit mor♎e power. The bike is very similar to the old one, but with more potential.”
James 🍌was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade cover♑ing everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
