Bagnaia’s Battle Against Odds: Aiming to Overcome Martin’s Lead in MotoGP’s Final Stretch

Francesco Bagnaia notes, "3 powerful circuits" yet highlights Martin's "greater control"

"There are three circuits where we excel significantly"

Francesco Bagnaia faces the challenge of closing a 21-point deficit against Jorge Martin in the remaining five rounds to secure his third consecutive MotoGP title.

Currently, the scenario is reversed from what it was a year prior, with Bagnaia finding himself 18 points behind the Pramac competitor at this corresponding point in time.

Conversely, the makeup of the final five stages shows a subtle variation.

The previous season ended with races at Phillip Island, Buriram, Sepang, Lusail, and Valencia. This season, the lineup includes Motegi, Phillip Island, Buriram, Sepang, and Valencia, with Qatar making a comeback as the first race of the season.

"Bagnaia anticipates that the Motegi circuit, along with Thailand and Malaysia, will play to their strengths, believing these three locations are where they have a significant advantage."

"In Australia, Jorge demonstrates significant strength, and our competition might mirror this intensity in locations such as Thailand and Valencia."

"However, I believe we find ourselves in a position where we must surpass him. He possesses a bit more control.”

Martin contested the idea that he currently holds a sufficient lead to begin controlling it.

"With five rounds remaining, it's premature to focus on taking control," he noted. "The emphasis should be on performing well and securing points in every scenario."

On Sunday at Mandalika, Martin secured just his third Grand Prix victory of the year. However, Bagnaia managed to close the gap by 3 points after the Spanish rider lost his leading position in the first lap of the Sprint.

"Last weekend was amazing. Despite dropping a few points in the overall competition, I was thrilled to secure another victory," Martin expressed. "Le Mans presented a real challenge, filled with ups and downs. There were Sundays I was on the verge of winning, but then errors happened, making it a truly emotional experience."

Bagnaia adopted an optimistic view, commenting, "Given Jorge's strong showing in Mandalika, it's important to view that weekend positively. Managing to earn three points on a circuit that greatly favors Jorge was a positive outcome."

The Italian mentioned his flawless twin win at the Red Bull Ring as a source of confidence for the 'stop-go' Motegi weekend.

"Motegi is a circuit that appeals to me. It complements my riding technique more than Mandalika does. There are numerous moments of braking and accelerating, making it resemble Austria's circuit where I perform well," he remarked.

Last season at Motegi, Martin emerged victorious in both events, clinching a win in the dry Sprint and following it up with a triumph in the rain-drenched, red-flagged race on Sunday.

"Definitely, last season at Motegi turned out well, but the circumstances were unique. I had to make my way up from the back, aggressively pushing forward, and I managed to secure victories in both the Sprint and the Sunday race," Martin reflected.

"Once more, the weather predictions are highly uncertain. Therefore, it's going to be tough and truly demanding. I'll put in all my effort, but we'll have to wait and see."

"In case of rain, my priority is to concentrate on giving my maximum effort. Dwelling on winning the championship is not my focus; rather, it's about performing to the best of my ability at each race weekend."

"Bagnaia emphasized the importance of readiness under all circumstances, expressing optimism about their potential to excel and begin closing the gap on Jorge by accumulating more points."

As Martin stumbled by plunging into the pit lane amidst a short downpour at Misano, Bagnaia chose to remain on track and secured the victory.

The Italian racer acknowledged the thrill of competing in another flag-to-flag race, especially with the championship possibly on the line. "Last year, we experienced a flag-to-flag race where we secured the top two positions," he reflected on the 2023 Motegi race. He emphasized the importance of balancing caution with the need to earn points, advising not to risk too much but also not to hold back entirely.

"Undertaking this task is among the most challenging yet immensely rewarding experiences, as it floods you with motivation and adrenaline. It demands full preparedness."

Practice sessions begin on Friday morning at Motegi.

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