Francesco Bagnaia is gearing up for a challenging weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix as he battles for the MotoGP title with Jorge Martin. Despite being teammates at Ducati, Bagnaia knows he cannot rely on Enea Bastianini for active support in his quest to hold off Martin. With Martin leading the standings, Bagnaia needs all the help he can get, especially since Martin’s consistency means that finishing second in the upcoming races could secure the championship. Bagnaia hopes Bastianini will perform strongly in front positions to create pressure on Martin, potentially opening up opportunities for him to gain more points.
Reflecting on the current standings, Bagnaia acknowledged the critical nature of each race at this stage in the season. “Before even beginning the weekend, I already knew that the worst-case scenario for Jorge is finishing second because he and I have a slight pace advantage over the others,” he remarked. Bagnaia hopes Bastianini will push hard, narrowing any gaps, but is realistic about relying solely on his own speed to stay ahead of both Martin and the rest of the field.
Bagnaia’s performance on Friday proved promising. In only the second instance of his MotoGP career, he topped both Friday practice sessions in Sepang, demonstrating his confidence and familiarity with the track. “I understand how important Friday is for setting the tone, and this track really suits me,” Bagnaia said, comparing it to Assen, another track where he has excelled. During the initial practice, he had a minor encounter with Martin on the back straight, although it quickly resolved, with Martin opting to continue his session independently.
Strategically, Bagnaia adapted his approach for Malaysia by choosing to use a fresh medium-compound rear tire early in the session, a move he usually avoids to save tires for later. This shift was influenced by Michelin’s choice of hard and medium rear tires for the weekend, which he anticipated would be crucial given the high tire wear on this circuit. Bagnaia noted that this setup allowed him to prepare for the tougher conditions expected on race day, ensuring he could maintain a strong pace throughout.
Despite his competitive start, Bagnaia observed that his performance varied across track sectors, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. While sector four’s tight braking corners complement his style, sector two proved more challenging, though he already has plans to make adjustments. Overall, Bagnaia’s focus and commitment to refining his technique could make a difference in the coming races, as he strives to stay ahead of Martin in the fight for the title.