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Francesco Bagnaia Showing Strong Form Ahead of Qatar GP

Francesco Bagnaia has expressed optimism about his performance this season, stating he feels he’s “very close” to matching the prowess of Marc Marquez following an impressive showing on the first day of practice in Qatar. Fresh off a vital victory at the Americas Grand Prix, Bagnaia quickly established a solid rhythm, successfully advancing directly into Q2—a significant improvement after his earlier struggles in Thailand and Argentina.

A key aspect of Bagnaia’s success on Friday was his ability to outpace his factory Ducati teammate, Marquez, during practice, which added to his confidence ahead of the weekend. Despite Marquez being over half a second faster in the initial Free Practice session, Bagnaia demonstrated notable improvement and speed on the bike as the day unfolded.

Bagnaia hinted at a competitive showdown this weekend, suggesting that the championship battle could become a contest primarily between the two factory Ducatis. This comes despite Gresini Ducati’s Alex Marquez currently leading the championship standings after consistent finishes.

“I believe we are very close to the front runners,” Bagnaia remarked after his practice sessions, highlighting the collective pace of him and Marquez. “In terms of speed, I feel like we’re the strongest at this moment.”

Although Franco Morbidelli of VR46 Ducati managed to outplace both Bagnaia and Marquez, securing second place behind him, the confidence displayed by the factory Ducatis was evident. The pair opted against a final run on soft tyres in practice, which may have obscured a complete picture of their capabilities but supported Bagnaia’s claim as a leading contender this weekend.

Bagnaia emphasized the difficulties in assessing tire performance and overall pace but noted his significant closeness to the front for the season thus far. Up until now, his win in the USA largely resulted from Marquez’s crash, and Bagnaia acknowledged that until Friday, he had not outperformed his teammate in terms of raw speed. However, this practice session marked an important milestone for him as he pushed for a top-10 finish to qualify for Q2.

Historically, Marquez has not been as dominant in Qatar, having only clinched victory once at the MotoGP circuit in Doha. In a press conference prior to the event, Marquez mentioned his awareness of Bagnaia’s potential, indicating that the circuit may favor his fellow competitors. “This is the first track this season where, historically, Alex and Pecco might have the edge over me,” he noted, setting the stage for what could be a highly competitive race weekend.

Source
www.autosport.com