Statement from Francesco Bagnaia as he Overcomes Injury to Top MotoGP San Marino GP Session

Francesco Bagnaia Overcomes Injury to Top MotoGP San Marino GP Session

Francesco Bagnaia defied pain and physical discomfort to lead the MotoGP practice session at the San Marino GP with an impressive lap time of 1m30.685s, finishing ahead of Marc Márquez by 0.185s. Despite battling injuries from his recent crash, Bagnaia’s performance on the opening day in Misano showcased his determination and skill.

The Ducati rider, who is still recovering from the injuries sustained in the Aragon GP, revealed that painkillers made a significant difference during the afternoon session.

“With the painkillers, it’s fantastic, it’s much better,” Bagnaia said. “This morning, I was scared because I was feeling a lot of pain in my shoulder and ribs, so it was not the best.

But we planned to take some painkillers for the afternoon, and apart from the first few laps where I needed to warm

up, everything went better—not 100%, but I was able to focus on riding and understanding the set-up.”

Bagnaia admitted that the improvement in his physical condition boosted his confidence for the weekend ahead: “This morning was tricky, very difficult.

Every change of direction felt like a knife, and it was not the best feeling. The luck is that we are in Misano, a track I know perfectly, so being able to focus on riding makes a lot of difference.”

Heading into the session, Bagnaia’s goal was to finish in the top ten, but his performance exceeded expectations as he topped the time sheets. Despite his physical challenges, no changes were made to the bike between the two sessions, with the painkillers proving to be the key factor in improving his sensations.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Bagnaia is optimistic about his physical condition improving further. “I think this was the worst day. Now I know what I need to do,” he explained.

“As soon as I finish, I’ll work with my physio, and we know what to do. Today was the worst day, so it will be better tomorrow, and even better on Sunday. Nothing is broken, it’s just a hit, and it’s getting better day by day. I’ll take painkillers for Sunday, absolutely, I need it.”

With his sights set on another strong performance at his home race, Bagnaia will continue to manage his injuries as he aims to secure crucial championship points.