Francesco Bagnaia sets sights on reclaiming lost 2023 victory, while Enea Bastianini remains Ducati’s sole previous COTA MotoGP champion.
Current double MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia declares he is “prepared to make amends” as he heads into one of his preferred events, COTA, this weekend.
This statement could potentially relate to either the recent clash with Marc Marquez at Portimao, last year’s error while leading in Austin, or both.
However, Bagnaia seems to be specifically referring to the 2023 mistake, when he fell while seemingly on track for a flawless Sprint and Grand Prix double victory over Alex Rins.
“The Grand Prix of the Americas is one of my favorites on the calendar: the track is fantastic, I really enjoy Austin, and the event’s atmosphere is unique,” stated Bagnaia, who has slipped to fourth in the standings after his Portimao DNF, trailing 23 points behind Jorge Martin.
“I arrive in America motivated and ready to make amends: last year, we were competitive all weekend, and without the crash, we would have won the Sunday race as well.
“I anticipate many fast riders this year, and it will certainly be challenging, but we have a solid foundation to build upon.
“In the previous GP in Portugal, the bike felt very good, but during Sunday’s race, we lacked something. Hence, it will be crucial to work on avoiding a repeat of that.”
Bagnaia’s crash from the 2023 Austin race keeps his current teammate Enea Bastianini as the sole Ducati rider to have clinched victory at the circuit, achieved during his 2022 win in Gresini colors.
Bastianini, who secured second place behind Martin in Portimao, currently holds the third spot in the world championship standings.
“I’m excited to be back in America, especially after missing the race last year due to a shoulder injury,” Bastianini stated. “COTA is a track I truly enjoy, and it brings back great memories of 2022, when I claimed my second MotoGP victory, the highlight of that year for me.
“After our performance in Portugal, I come to Austin with a strong sense of motivation and confidence.
“I anticipate a challenging Grand Prix, but we are well-prepared: we have a solid setup foundation and a clear vision of areas where we can improve. Therefore, we are determined to compete at the front once again this weekend.”
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