Marc Marquez closed the first day of testing at Assen with the 6th fastest timeenough to secure a direct entry into Q2. The Spaniard was more convincing in the morning than in the afternoon, but the balance is still in the plus sign. “The truth is that it went quite well, this morning I got on the bike and I felt like I had never stopped, I was at ease – explains the Gresini team rider – This afternoon I struggled more, but we think we know why and we’ll check it tomorrow morning. There is Vinales who is one step ahead of everyone else and Pecco who is almost two, then there are 3 or 4 of us on the same level”.
Where does Bagnaia make the difference?
“It’s in a positive spiral, where everything is going well, he comes from two consecutive victories, he won here last year and he likes this track, he even has it tattooed on his arm. When you’re in those moments, you’re fast and you have to learn from what he’s doing”.
Pramac’s move to Yamaha next year is official, is it a bad thing for Ducati? Is it a very high price they paid to want you in the official team?
“First point, I don’t feel guilty of the fact that Pramac is leaving, I didn’t do anything. As a Ducati rider, I would have preferred him to stay because it is an excellent team and we would have had two more bikes on the track, as a MotoGP fan I think this is good news. Selfishly speaking I would have preferred to have more bikes and data, but I also understand that for the championship having 4 Yamahas on the track is better”.
Bagnaia said that your bike is almost identical to his…
“If they didn’t deceive me, no. I have the same bike as Alex, Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio, the one from last year and it goes very well. I don’t know how much better or worse the GP24 is because I’ve never tried it, but that’s the way it is. I feel good and on this bike I and other riders have shown that it is possible to be fastci”.
After the Jerez tests, some updates have arrived…
“One thing has arrived, but I can’t say what it is (ride). Ducati has a policy that is difficult for a rider to understand, but from a manufacturer’s point of view it is correct, which is that all the GP23s must have the same updates at the same time, regardless of how far ahead you are in the championship. Gigi was very honest on this point already last year, he told me that if I was fighting with the GP24s I would have the same material as everyone else, if instead I was alone with the Aprilia or the KTM, then I would have had something moreover. I’m fighting with other Ducatis and I’m getting what they told me”.
What is the goal for tomorrow in qualifying?
“MI would like to be in the first two rows, at worst in the third”.
Even today you were the protagonist of some rescues…
“From the outside it was worse than on the bike, I had everything under control. I was ready, when I realized I was losing the front I used my elbow and the gas a little (ride)”.
What is it like to drive with a signed contract?
“I was already relaxed because I had two options that I felt comfortable with and I knew that one of the two would happen, as well as a third, an escape route. Ducati has always believed in me since I arrived and this certainly makes me happier.”.
