Defending champion and MotoGP leader Francesco Bagnaia has had a tough week. On Sunday, an opponent ran over his leg in Barcelona. It looked like a serious injury and a long break, but the Italian returned to his Ducati yesterday at his home circuit in Misano.
In Sunday’s Catalan Grand Prix, the reigning champion was literally catapulted from the seat of his bike in the second corner. Shortly after, Brad Binder’s KTM motorcycle ran over the legs of the lying rider. And on top of that, the champion’s Ducati flew right past Jorge Martin’s title challenger.
“It seemed like an endless moment. When the front wheel starts to twitch, you know you’re one step away from the machine going completely out of control. It’s like that all the time at Valentino Rossi’s ranch, so I was ready for a big jump. The worst was the impact on the ground. Thanks to the manufacturer of the racing overalls, we have protection on the sides, which helped a lot,” Bagnaia recalled of the critical moment.
“When I was spinning on the track lying down, I could hear and see all the bikes… I saw the KTM passing between my legs. And I just hoped and believed that no one else would pass me. Honestly, it was a very dramatic situation,” recalled the 26-year-old rider to one of the most dramatic moments of his career.
“I think the main job was done by Jorge (Martin) and Brad (Binder), who handled the situation perfectly. They did a great job, that’s for sure. They were also the first ones to come to me and were concerned if I was okay,” he thanked the rivals .
The factory Ducati rider ended up in an ambulance and then even headed to a hospital in Barcelona, but luckily for him the fears of a serious injury were not confirmed. Yesterday he was already circling the circuit in Misano on his Ducati.
Francesco Bagnaia in a Barcelona hospital:
“I have a big bruise on my knee that goes down to my leg. It will be a bit difficult to move my leg. I had to change my riding style in the right corners. Misano is my home race and it is very important for me to race here. We worked really hard with the whole team, I’m proud of all of us. I believe that day by day it will get better and better,” he added optimistically.
In Misano, he fights against the clock right from the start. “The times I got on the used tires were good. My riding pace was incredible and the fast lap attempt also went well. It will be tough for sure, but I don’t want to think too much about the races. I want to stay calm and enjoy every moment on the track, ” reflected the native of Turin.
The Italian leads the overall ranking by 50 points and is a recognized expert on the track in Misano. Therefore, he has a good chance that if he is at least a little fit, he will be able to maintain a decent lead.
“When I sit on my Desmosedic, I feel almost at ease. Misano is one of my favorite tracks. The power and energy that the fans can give us is incredible. They train a lot here, so I know the circuit perfectly. So we’ll see,” he added.
2023-09-10 20:26:41
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