The rider is happy with the third position and with the Marquez save. He also ran out of gas but in Friday’s statements he focused on Pol Espargaro’s crash: “I’m worried, today we can raise our voices”
March 24, 2023
I’m sorry Bagnaia And third at the end of this first Friday of 2023, with a new format. The third time allows him to be already in Q2 for tomorrow. Curiosity, the pilot ran out of gas after a time attack. In the meeting with journalists, he also spoke of the lack of security on the Portimao track, following the violent fall of Pol Espargaro.
On running out of gas…
“Unfortunately we’re all rookies in this new format, we made a mistake with the fuel, but that’s okay, it didn’t make much difference to finish first or fifth, the important thing was to be in the top 10”
On the Marquez save…
“I’m very proud, I’ve never done it before, I did it in fourth grade. I’m happy, I kept it up well, I finished the suit a bit but that’s the least, it was windy. The grip level isn’t high for the times we’re doing. I’m happy with the pace and the time attack”
Why is there less grip in your opinion?
“Maybe the rain this morning, or maybe they rode Moto2 or Moto3. The temperatures seem high but it’s cold”
What did you think after saving?
“I stopped and immediately set off again, I needed time and I did it, I couldn’t think that my front had closed”
On Miller first…
“I didn’t expect it, he took a step forward, even on the pass. I’m glad he’s up front.”
This morning when you saw the rain and there’s one shift less what did you think?
“That it went well that we had done the test. It wasn’t the best, it’s not the best that the power went out, I’m very angry about the safety of this track”
Still on track safety…
“We’ve been complaining for four years, today we can raise our voices, the corner without air fans is ridiculous. Then the gravel, here’s a problem. From the tests, the gravel has improved in the first piece but it’s not enough. Here, the gravel is a problem, we need to make a change. The second red flag made me worry about Pol, always the fault of the gravel, unfortunately. The first time we came here in 2020 I sent the photo of the gravel to Uncini, on Wednesday. Last year I came back in the box with the gravel in hand and everyone made fun of me. You can see in the crash that Pol enters the gravel and doesn’t slow down”
Loris Capirossi had explained to us that the situation was being sorted out and that the gravel would be replaced in the main points, but evidently the situation is far from resolved.