Bagnaia’s Mixed Weekend in Mandalika: Sprint Victory and Main Race Struggles

Bagnaia’s Mixed Weekend in Mandalika: Sprint Victory and Main Race Struggles

Pecco Bagnaia experienced a rollercoaster weekend at the Mandalika circuit, managing to chip away at Jorge Martin’s championship lead with a surprise Sprint win but ultimately falling short in the main race. While the Italian celebrated his Saturday victory, he faced challenges during the longer event on Sunday, finishing in third place.

Reflecting on his weekend, Bagnaia expressed a mix of emotions. “After the start of the weekend, I was resigned to results like this, but after yesterday, no, because I was dreaming to be closer to Jorge,” he shared with TNT Sports’ Gavin Emmett. His triumph in the Sprint had raised expectations, but the main race proved to be a different story.

Bagnaia struggled from the start, noting that he “missed the start again,” which set him back early on. The rear

wheel of his bike began to spin, causing him to lose valuable positions. “I was just trying to be very careful with everything, but I was struggling to overtake,” he admitted.

He particularly noted the difficulty of racing against his competitors, mentioning that the bike of his rival, Bezz, had significantly better acceleration due to superior rear grip. Once he managed to pass Bezz, overtaking Franky became easier, thanks to the similarities in their machinery.

Despite the challenges he faced in the main race, Bagnaia remained optimistic about his performance overall. “Considering the start, it’s a good place and we recovered three points in the championship from the start of the week, so it’s good,” he concluded.

There was also a brief moment of hope for Bagnaia to secure additional points when Pedro Acosta, who finished second, was investigated for a potential tyre pressure infringement. Although Bagnaia admitted that it would have made him feel “much better” about his weekend, Acosta was ultimately cleared, leaving Bagnaia with only the three points gained.

As the MotoGP season progresses, Bagnaia’s ability to capitalize on his strengths while navigating setbacks will be crucial in his pursuit of the championship title. With the next race on the horizon, he will look to build on his Sprint success and address the issues that plagued him in the main event.