Ducati’s Masterclass in Barcelona: Bagnaia Credits Michelin Tyres for Monumental Victory

Francesco Bagnaia credits Michelin's new 2024 tyre models as the key factor for their win in Barcelona.

At the 2023 Catalunya MotoGP, despite not securing a victory as Aleix Espargaro clinched both wins for Aprilia, Ducati dominated the Sunday grand prix, achieving a podium sweep.

Francesco Bagnaia secured the win by passing Jorge Martin six laps before the finish, and Marc Marquez surpassed Espargaro to claim third place with just four laps left.

Despite not being seen as the top contenders on Friday, Ducati's performance progressively improved throughout the weekend.

Bagnaia suggested a major reason for their success in Sunday's grand prix.

The double MotoGP title holder expressed, "This season felt distinct for me. I believe the tyres significantly contributed to our performance. However, as early as Friday, it was evident that the speed of Marc, Jorge, and myself was competitive."

"In my opinion, during the first free practice, KTM showed more strength, and Aprilia also performed better due to the low grip conditions caused by the track being dirty. However, once the track was cleaned up a bit, the conditions improved."

"I kept the initial configuration throughout the weekend since I felt comfortable with it and had no desire to alter it. The most significant difference from the previous year was the tires."

Regarding the competition, Bagnaia outsmarted Martin by saving his tyres better in the initial phases.

Bagnaia seized the opportunity to make a significant move towards the end, marking his initial pass with impact by navigating past his rival at turn five, the very bend that proved to be his downfall during the sprint.

"Bagnaia mentioned, "I had a good start and aimed to establish my rhythm, however, Jorge and Pedro were really applying pressure."

"I attempted to keep pace with them for a single lap, but I sensed that it was somewhat overwhelming for my tyres, so I opted to hold back for a little while longer."

"After completing ten laps, I began to catch up with Jorge in terms of speed. This was challenging as although I had better control over the rear, the front was significantly less stable, making it difficult to manage."

"However, towards the final stretch of the race, I managed to gain speed on the corner entries. That's where I really pulled ahead of Jorge."

"I'm quite pleased because following the sprint, I was extremely upset and let down. It was crucial to take action in corner five to make amends for my mistake."

"The optimal spot for passing was there since my performance entering and navigating turn four was exceptional in terms of speed. I chose to make my move at that point, all the while hoping I wouldn't end up losing control at the front."

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