The world champion was immediately very strong, alternating between the GP22 and the GP23: “We will continue to compare them until Sunday and probably also in Portimao. The new bike has aspects that I really like, but in acceleration we are not at the level of the old one. Fear of going the wrong way? No, I have a great team behind me”
February 10, 2023
Sepang – In Francis Bagnaia affects his awareness: he knows he is strong, he feels strong, is strong. This is the most evident positive aspect: the 2022 title has given it something more, a special charge.
“In general, the sensations were very similar to those of last year, I didn’t suffer the three-month break: I went stronger in the first round today than in FP1 in October”.
Why?
“Maybe because I never had time to disconnect…”
Today we have already gone very fast: Bezzecchi arrived within seven tenths of the record.
“You have to consider the work done by each rider, there are those who did the attack on the time and those who didn’t. There are always particular conditions in testing and here, when it doesn’t rain, the track rubbers a lot: I entered the first session and immediately felt good. I believe that in these three days we will see some great times: we will go very fast”
Let’s compare the bike you won with here in October and the 2023 one.
“There’s a very small difference in the engine, but it conveys different sensations: you have to work on it. I set the best time today with the 2023: I didn’t do a “time attack”, in the afternoon we concentrated on using both bikes only with used tyres, to try to better understand their potential. At the moment, the GP23 has some positive aspects that I really like, but also some points to improve: acceleration is a little different compared to the old bike, which was very competitive in that aspect. We have to focus on evaluating all things well, even the fairings: fortunately, this year there is one more day of testing than in 2022 and I believe that at the end of these tests we will find a solution for everything”
To recap: you have two bikes in the garage, one 2022 and one 2023. Will you continue with these in the next few days?
“Yes, I think we’ll do the same in Portimao too: last year’s bike had a three-year basis, from 2020 to 2022, albeit with many small improvements. It is clear that after a long time we had arrived last year to have it at its maximum potential. This is new: it’s right to keep comparing them to get to be more competitive”
Is the fear of going the wrong way as happened in winter 2022?
“Compared to last year we are in better shape: in 2022 I had done 2’00” doing a “time attack” to find some morale, but we were in trouble. Today the sensations were immediately positive. I’m not afraid: I have an incredible team behind me, the feeling is good, there’s nothing to worry about”
Do the riders who have the 2022 start with a small advantage?
“I don’t know: surely they have to try less, they can only think about adapting to the bike. We have to do more tests, but that’s normal in an official team. Now it is useless to compare yourself with others”
How did it go with Enea Bastianini?
“During the lunch break we compared each other: the sensations coincide enough. It’s a positive aspect, it means we’re going in the same direction: we started off on the right foot”
And the other houses?
“I didn’t see anyone on the track”
The Yamaha seems faster though.
“Yes., but the tests count for the right thing: even in 2022 it seemed that Suzuki was extremely fast or that Honda was competitive: we have to wait for the first race”
