Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1488031
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 13, 2022 P107 on corner exit was quickly adopted by all the grid's other bikes. But the new device, which lowered the front of the bike and was eventu- ally abandoned by the factory team, required a complete change in riding technique. And it didn't end there: Bagnaia was so dis- pleased with Ducati's '22 engine in testing that he requested a dramatic change before the first race—both he and teammate Jack Miller would go back to "a slightly hybrid version between the '21 and '22 engine," according to Sporting Director Paolo Ciabatti. But still, it wasn't done. Bagnaia and Ducati went to the first race chop- ping and changing parts and setup. The lead rider was not amused. It underlined a weak- ness to which many could relate. "He wants to come up with a base setup and then make very little changes to it," admitted Ciabatti. Still, it got worse. Bagnaia was all over the place on Saturday in Argentina, repeatedly throwing his hands up in the air before team- mate Jack Miller put a caring arm around his shoulder. That was before a painful qualifying crash in Portugal put his participation in that GP in some doubt. Their issues were exacerbated by the state of the grid. Yamaha was running the same underpowered bike as the previous year, while Honda and KTM were miles off. Ducati was standing in front of an open goal. The speed of the GP21 in Bastianini's hands was an added insult. Free of testing responsibil- ities aboard a fully sorted bike, the Italian swept There is no doubt Bagnaia's mettle will be tested like never before 2023. Not only should Quartararo have faster equipment, but Marc Marquez should also be nearing his level if Honda can deliver. And everything Bastianini did in the second half of this season made it perfectly clear he will do everything within his power to unsettle his countryman, Bag- naia, from his position as factory number one. But that fails to take Bagnaia's own margin for improvement into account. He is only the second rider to have triumphed in both Moto2 and the Mo- toGP class- es, behind Marquez. And just imagine what he can do from the start of next year if Ducati doesn't try and reinvent the wheel over winter. "I don't think his growth is at an end—he's only half way," said Gabarrini. "He's growing every race and showing us this by control- ling the pressure, the other competitors, or making a super-explosive lap in qualifying. He doesn't know where his limit is, which is good because we can look toward the future with a positive trend." And now that he has secured the biggest gong the sport has to offer, the man that wears the phrase "Go Free" on the back of his leathers finally has a heavy burden off his shoulders. "I think you never stop improving, never stop growing, never stop learning," Bagnaia said. "I have a lot of things to improve. I have a lot of things to learn. Also, the way to speak with the journalists sometimes could be better. But I think it's normal. I'm only 25 years old. Also, as a man, I am growing. It's part of the circle of the life. In this moment, I feel more free. I feel that the job is done." MORE TO COME Bagnaia's Crew Chief, Cristian Gabarrini, guided Casey Stoner to his two world titles and can now add a third with Bagnaia. "I don't think his growth is at an end—he's only halfway," said Gabarrini. I just lost faith in the championship for like one hour after the race at the Sachsenring. But I knew there was still a chance. We tried to analyze everything at home: what to improve, why I was crashing, why I was committing so many mistakes. But from that moment, we did something incredible.