Ducati Lenovo’s Pecco Bagnaia kicked off his weekend at the Chang International Circuit with optimism tempered by a few challenges, as he works to close the gap in the championship against rival Jorge Martín.
Despite some setup issues, the Italian remains calm and focused on improving for the crucial race weekend ahead.
Bagnaia’s Friday practice started on a positive note, though he faced an unexpected delay when one of his bikes encountered issues, slowing his initial momentum. “I had a very good start this morning, but a small problem with one of the bikes delayed me,” Bagnaia explained. Forced to work on a new setup in limited time, he managed to adapt, ending with a promising time attack lap, though he admitted it wasn’t perfect. “The balance is positive, a little problematic,” he reflected.
Bagnaia experimented with several setup adjustments throughout the session. After testing a different configuration before the final lap, he noticed improvement but feels there’s room for fine-tuning. “We made a small change that helped a bit,” he noted, adding that despite not achieving the ideal lap, he’s made strides that set him up for the weekend.
Assessing his performance relative to other drivers, Bagnaia is clear-headed about his strengths and opportunities for improvement. “I don’t know, I see myself strong with all of them. Martin, in my opinion, had a quieter afternoon and did a good job with the soft, medium and hard tyres. So he has definitely worked hard and is more than ready for the race, but we’ll see tomorrow.”
As Bagnaia evaluates his performance, he points to Turn 4 and the third sector as areas to refine. “I can brake very hard, but I lose a bit too much in Turn 4 and struggle in the third sector,” he admitted. Despite these challenges, the Ducati rider remains calm, attributing his focus to staying present and working towards a strong race result.
