Marco Bezzecchi
MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has urged Ducati to ‘put in the same effort’ as Francesco Bagnaia to reignite his career.
It was a promising afternoon for Bagnaia as he finished sixth in the Catalan Grand Prix Sprint, with Gresini’s Alex Marquez winning ahead of KTM’s Pedro Acosta and VR46 star Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Bagnaia, 29, made good progress in the Sprint after starting in 13th place, and ended up just 0.130 seconds behind fifth-placed Johann Zarco.
After tough weekends in Jerez and Le Mans, where Bagnaia failed to finish the Grand Prix, the Italian will be looking for a much-improved performance this Sunday.
Very fine margins decided the Catalan Sprint as Alex Marquez won – Who was your rider of the Race?
Valentino Rossi wants Ducati to ‘put in the same effort’ as Francesco Bagnaia
Speaking on Sky Sports Italia after the Sprint, MotoGP legend Rossi was full of praise for Bagnaia.
The 47-year-old expressed his delight over Bagnaia’s attitude and urged Ducati to ‘put in the same effort’ in order to challenge at the front of the grid, as the potential is there.
Rossi said: “He has a very good attitude this year, he’s really giving it his all. The results are visible because he had a great weekend at Le Mans.
“The season is still long, and he probably won’t be racing for Ducati again next year. I’d like Ducati to put in the same effort as Pecco to try to get back to the front.
“Like in a marriage where you’re so in love, when bad things happen, like last year, and the results don’t come, Pecco made some comments.
“I see that tempers have cooled a bit. But he’s trying, and I hope everyone at Ducati is trying too, because I think the potential to win again is there.”
Alex Marquez beats Pedro Acosta to win the Sprint! Is the Gresini rider now your favourite for the Catalan Grand Prix?
READ MORE: Andrea Dovizioso pinpoints why Francesco Bagnaia has never been a fan favourite
Francesco Bagnaia believes in Ducati’s potential and aims to win again
In response, Bagnaia stated that he is giving everything in order to achieve better results.
The 29-year-old added that it was important to take a ‘small step’, which was getting to the end of the Sprint and showing good pace around the track. Ultimately, he believes the team can ‘win again’.
Bagnaia said: “First of all, it was really cool to rewatch the final lap in Barcelona. That overtaking move at the end was fantastic, goosebumps, beautiful.
“It’s an approach that I think I took the wrong way last year. I thought I’d give it my all, but this year I think I’m giving it my all, a little more. At least, I’m trying in everything I do, and I think we’re struggling off to a good start because this bike still needs to be understood.
“More than anything, it seems like we don’t have a good base setup that works extremely well everywhere, like Diggia managed to find because he’s always ahead in every situation. We, on the other hand, are struggling a little more.
“But even today, here we managed to make another small step, and that’s important. It wasn’t easy because tyre wear is demanding here, and we managed to get to the end of the Sprint with a good pace, so that’s positive.
“At home, we’re trying in every way, and we’ll continue like this, because I think our potential is higher than this, and together we can win again.”
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
