Francesco Bagnaia reveals new ‘advice’ from Valentino Rossi to catch Marc Marquez at Americas Grand Prix

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Francesco Bagnaia hardly sounds bullish ahead of the Grand Prix of the Americas. He knows how strong Ducati teammate Marc Marquez has been in Austin.

Marquez scored his first-ever MotoGP victory (in just his seconds race) at the 2013 Americas GP. That launched a run of six Texas wins in a row.

The streak ended with a DNF in 2019, but Marquez was back on the top step in 2021 in what was a rare win during his final years at Honda. Despite his crash 12 months ago, he enters this weekend as the overwhelming favourite.

Bagnaia took the chequered flag at the Americas Grand Prix en route to the Moto2 title in 2018. But he’s only picked up one podium in five visits since graduating to the premier class.

The no. 63 rider enters the weekend 31 points adrift, having seen his new teammate maintain a perfect record at the start of the year. He’s yet to finish inside the top two, with Alex Marquez the closest threat to his brother.

Francesco Bagnaia shares fresh talks with Valentino Rossi before Americas Grand Prix

Bagnaia has made statistically his best-ever start to a MotoGP season, which offers him some encouragement. While few expected him to be below Marquez Jr, he has amassed a reasonable points haul from two historically weaker circuits.

The Italian insists that he’s staying ‘calm’ despite talk in the build-up to the race that he was going to ditch the new Desmosedici for the GP24. Bagnaia clarified in an interview with Sky Italy that he was ‘misunderstood’.

He also revealed that he’d spoken to his mentor Valentino Rossi in the break between Argentina and the US. Rossi has seemingly recommended a change in approach for this weekend.

“It was my best start of the season in terms of points, also taking into account the difficult circuits for my riding style,” he said. We have to stay calm, work and try to find the feeling again.”

“I was misunderstood, I don’t want to go back to the GP24 but to the feeling I had with the old bike. The new Ducati is the one that can give us the most. I’m struggling to have the same speed in some aspects, but we’re working on it.”

“He gave me some advice, he never makes mistakes and so I’ll try to put it into practice.”

Bagnaia’s relationship with Rossi – as a graduate of the VR46 academy – offers an intriguing subplot at Ducati. The Doctor was involved in a bitter rivalry with Marquez when they were in the colours of Yamaha and Honda.

Jorge Martin offers verdict on Francesco Bagnaia vs Marc Marquez at Ducati

Jack Miller says Bagnaia is still underrated, despite winning two world championships. Miller has marvelled at the smoothness of his riding style.

One of the things that makes Bagnaia great is that ‘he doesn’t force it’. The early gap to Marquez could easily lend itself to overriding, so he must be wary.

Former title rival Jorge Martin is back in the MotoGP paddock for this weekend’s race. The Aprilia rider is still out injured but is nearing a return.

Speaking to the Italian press, Martin said Bagnaia needs ‘everything’ in place to beat Marquez. By contrast, the Ant of Cervera is more ‘impetuous’, but also more versatile.