Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia enters the MotoGP Thailand Grand Prix at the Chang International Circuit with a mixture of optimism and caution as he prepares to face off against rival Jorge Martin. As the championship race heats up, Bagnaia is focused on overcoming setup challenges and refining his performance to close the points gap. Although he encountered some setbacks during practice, his determination remains strong as he aims for a successful weekend.
The Italian rider’s first day at the circuit started positively, despite experiencing an unexpected delay due to issues with one of his bikes. Bagnaia described his morning session as promising until the mechanical setback slowed his progress. “I had a very good start this morning, but a small problem with one of the bikes delayed me,” he shared. Even with this hiccup, he quickly adapted to a new setup, ultimately achieving a respectable time attack lap, albeit not without imperfections. “The balance is positive, but there are still some problems to address,” he noted.
Throughout the practice sessions, Bagnaia experimented with various setup modifications. He reported some progress after testing a new configuration before his final lap, although he recognized that further adjustments are necessary. “We made a small change that helped a bit,” he said, indicating that while he didn’t hit the ideal lap, the overall development is encouraging for the upcoming races.
When assessing his performance against competitors, Bagnaia remains realistic about his strengths and areas needing improvement. He acknowledged Jorge Martin’s strong showing during the afternoon session, stating, “I see myself strong with all of them. Martin had a quieter afternoon and did a good job with the soft, medium, and hard tyres.” Bagnaia expressed respect for Martin’s preparation, admitting, “He is more than ready for the race, but we’ll see tomorrow.”
As he continues to fine-tune his setup, Bagnaia highlighted specific sections of the track that require his attention, particularly Turn 4 and the third sector. “I can brake very hard, but I lose a bit too much in Turn 4 and struggle in the third sector,” he explained. Despite these challenges, Bagnaia remains composed, focusing on his strategy and determined to achieve a strong result in the competitive atmosphere of the Thai GP. As the race weekend unfolds, all eyes will be on him to see how he leverages the circuit’s layout to his advantage.