Bagnaia Reflects on Michelin Tyre Test and Development Focus During Barcelona MotoGP

 

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati’s leading rider, made headlines in September after praising a new Michelin front tyre he tested during the MotoGP session in Misano. The tyre was said to offer impressive performance, helping him maintain confidence in its potential. However, during the subsequent test in Barcelona last week, Bagnaia did not have the opportunity to test the tyre again, as his schedule was filled with multiple other priorities aimed at bike development.

During the Barcelona test, Bagnaia had a tight agenda, with the focus primarily on testing various bike configurations and specifications. This packed schedule, all within a single day, was crucial for refining the bike’s setup ahead of the winter break. With multiple aspects of the Ducati bike under scrutiny, there simply wasn’t enough time to revisit the new front tyre, despite the interest surrounding it.

“I didn’t know about it, so maybe they didn’t want to tell me, because I needed to be focused more on the bikes,” Bagnaia explained. This suggests that the team had strategic reasons for not involving him in tyre testing during this particular session. With three bikes in the box and several important configurations to evaluate, the focus had to remain on optimizing the bike’s overall performance. Testing a new tyre would have complicated an already demanding schedule.

However, Bagnaia made it clear that he didn’t feel the need to revisit the Michelin tyre. Reflecting on his previous experience in Misano, where he found the tyre’s performance

“fantastic,” he confidently stated that if the tyre remained the same, it would have likely performed well again in Barcelona. “If the tyre was the same, my feeling in Misano was fantastic, and could have been fantastic also in Barcelona,” he remarked. This confidence shows that Bagnaia was already satisfied with the tyre’s potential and did not need further confirmation of its capabilities.

In MotoGP, testing is a delicate balance between new component trials, bike setups, and the ever-present goal of improving lap times. Bagnaia’s comments underscore the importance of prioritizing bike development, especially when a rider is already confident in the performance of certain components. As the winter break approaches, teams like Ducati continue to fine-tune their machines, looking to maintain their competitive edge heading into the new season. For Bagnaia, it’s clear that ensuring the bike’s overall performance remains the primary focus.