Michelin Aggressive response to Bagnaia Strange tyre issue in misano: “It pisses me off why will he blame us for his failure…”

**Analysis of Francesco Bagnaia’s Race at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix: Michelin’s Perspective**

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was a rollercoaster for Francesco Bagnaia, the Ducati MotoGP factory rider who found himself grappling with a perplexing drop in pace during the race. After starting strong and initially leading, Bagnaia lost his second-place position to teammate Enea Bastianini on lap five and faced mounting pressure from competitors, particularly Marc Marquez. Despite this setback, Bagnaia managed to regain speed in the middle portion of the race, even breaking the 1m31s barrier and setting the fastest lap on lap 16. This duality of performance sparked a heated discussion about the role of Michelin’s tyres in the outcome of the race.

Post-race, Bagnaia expressed his frustrations, attributing his inconsistent performance to what he described as a rear tyre that “didn’t work” for the first 15 laps. His comments reflected a deep sense of disappointment, particularly after starting the race with high hopes following a strong qualifying performance

and an impressive sprint race victory. “It really pisses me off,” he stated, emphasizing the emotional toll of watching competitors gain time while he struggled to maintain pace. However, he clarified that his frustration was not directed at Michelin, acknowledging the complexities of tyre performance in racing.

In response to Bagnaia’s claims, Michelin conducted an initial analysis and found no apparent defects in the tyre. Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s two-wheel motorsport manager, pointed out that if the tyre had indeed been faulty, it would have caused consistent issues throughout the race rather than the intermittent performance observed. The fact that Bagnaia was able to set competitive lap times early on and regain speed later in the race suggested that other factors might have been at play, beyond just tyre performance.

Taramasso elaborated on the need for further investigation, stating, “We have to understand where this is coming from, whether it’s something to do with the track, the bike, or the tyres.” He noted that while Bagnaia’s pace dipped significantly after the early laps, he rebounded impressively around lap 12, challenging the notion that a persistent tyre issue was responsible for the struggles. The contrast between Bagnaia’s comments and the actual lap times presented a puzzle that Michelin aimed to solve, illustrating the intricate dynamics of MotoGP racing.

This incident underscores the complexities faced by teams and manufacturers in the high-stakes environment of MotoGP. Factors such as track conditions, bike setup, and rider performance all intertwine, making it challenging to pinpoint the cause of sudden performance drops. As Michelin awaits more data from Ducati to conduct a comprehensive analysis, the racing community is left to ponder the intricacies of tyre performance and its impact on race outcomes.

Ultimately, this episode not only highlights Bagnaia’s resilience but also the ongoing challenges that teams face in optimizing performance under competitive conditions. The quest for clarity regarding the unusual fluctuations in Bagnaia’s race pace will likely lead to deeper insights into the relationship between rider, machine, and tyre, reaffirming the importance of collaboration between teams and suppliers in the pursuit of excellence in MotoGP.