April 28, 2024. A date that will remain in the history of motorcycling. Not so much for the Bagnaia’s victoryor confirmation of the return of Marquez. As for the duel that these two champions staged. Rossi – Lorenzo, Dovizioso – Marquez or – why not? – Rossi – Stoner. It is not a sacrilege to compare what happened on the twenty-first lap of the Jerez GP 2024. Marquez passes Bagnaia, the reigning world champion crosses inside; Marc throws himself in, Pecco doesn’t close the throttle and… boom! Collision. Luckily (or rather, out of skill) they were both standing. With Bagnaia ahead and Marquez chasing again. The two try an encore the next lap, but this time the n. 1 awaits the attempt of n. 93, and rejects it without too many risks. Then fastest lap signed by Nuvola Rossa. And victory.
Marquez didn’t expect Bagnaia’s resistance. Nobody expected such a spectacle. Yet the official Ducati rider had already hinted at his state of form right from the start. Already on the first lap, coming out in 4th place after the first corner, Bagnaia braked, on the outside, two riders at once. Bezzecchi (third at the finish line) and Martin. An overtaking to watch over and over again. “The best moment of the race”, Pecco defined it at the end of the race. For him, even more spectacular than the counter-overtaking on Marquez. For us, it’s difficult to choose.
In addition to the emotions offered, the Jerez race leaves a thought: Bagnaia is a complete champion, like few in the recent history of MotoGP. Not just instinct, not just speed, not just rationality. All together.
With just one race (which to define as such is an understatement, given that it is a masterpiece) Pecco silenced those who still persist in considering him a calculator, as if it were a defect. Pecco is rational, but he is much more. On a competitive bike, of course, which isn’t just him riding. But only he drives like this.
What was missing was the battle against a sacred monster like Marquez to establish himself among the greatest. Now that has arrived too.
