Bagnaia Touches Mandalika Ahead of MotoGP Portugal 2022

KOMPAS.com – racer Ducati Lenovo, Francesco Bagnaia, had mentioned the race in Indonesia ahead of the MotoGP Portugal 2022.

MotoGP Portugal is the fifth race of the World Championship MotoGP 2022 which will be held at the Algarve International Circuit on Sunday (24/4/2022).

Bagnaia alluded to the race at the Mandalika Circuit because the Algarve Circuit is likely to rain in the middle of the circuit MotoGP Portugal 2022.

Quoted from the BBC, the weather forecast shows that it will rain on the Algarve Circuit on the day of the Portugal 2022 MotoGP Qualification, Saturday (23/4/2022).

As for MotoGP, there is a possibility that the Portuguese MotoGP will be a wet race or not wet race both seasons.

Read also: MotoGP Portugal 2022, Quartararo’s Important Race in the World Champion Competition

That fact made Bagnaia mention the race in Indonesia ahead of the MotoGP Portugal 2022.

Because, Indonesian MotoGP 2022 which will be held at the Mandalika Circuit, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), is wet race first MotoGP of the season.

At the 2022 Indonesian MotoGP, Bagnaia, who started the race from sixth place, had to settle for one point after finishing in 15th.

Bagnaia at that time was very disappointed because he experienced braking and acceleration problems on his Ducati Desmosedici GP22 motorbike so that it was not optimal on wet tracks.

When asked about the potential for the Portugal 2022 MotoGP race to take place in the middle of a wet track, Bagnaia admitted that he was ready.

Bagnaia is optimistic that he will not suffer the same fate as in Indonesia if it really rains at the Algarve Circuit this weekend.

Read also: MotoGP Portugal 2022 – Fabio Quartararo Wants to End Like in Mandalika

“All riders must face the same situation (if it rains). So, we will adapt like other riders,” said Bagnaia quoted from Motosan.es.

“Except in Indonesia, I’m usually always fast when racing on a wet track,” added the Italian rider.

“I think we have a good basic setting (if the race is on a wet track). The most important thing is that it works,” said Bagnaia.

After participating in four races, Bagnaia is still stuck in 12th place in the MotoGP 2022 rider standings with 23 points.

Bagnaia is temporarily behind by 38 points from Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing) who sits at the top of the standings.

Bagnaia’s best finish in four races this season is a fifth-place finish at the 2022 United States MotoGP two weeks ago.

Regarding this weekend’s target, Bagnaia admitted that he was very optimistic that he could compete with other racers in the front row.

Read also: MotoGP Portugal 2022, Marc Marquez does not set a specific target

Bagnaia is confident because last season he managed to climb the winner’s podium at the Algarve Circuit.

“Last year, I won at Portimao. It’s a track I like,” said Bagnaia.

“We will try hard to do our best. Seeing what we did in the last few races, we know we can be a bit ahead,” said Bagnaia.

“Slowly we are starting to understand how to be more competitive. It’s certainly not an easy start to the season, because last season we won more points,” said Bagnaia.

Nearby, Bagnaia and all other riders are scheduled to take part in the first and second free practice sessions of the Portuguese MotoGP on Friday (22/4/2022).

The Portugal 2022 MotoGP race is scheduled to take place on Sunday (4/24/2022) starting at 19.00 WIB.

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