Francesco Bagnaia Surpasses Marc Marquez’s Pace in Qatar GP Practice

At the Qatar GP practice, Francesco Bagnaia edged out teammate Marc Marquez, showcasing improved performance following a recent victory. Bagnaia expressed confidence, stating he felt close to Marquez’s pace, thereby raising expectations for a competitive weekend ahead. Factors such as historical performance and current standings indicate an intriguing race is on the horizon, with Bagnaia aiming to make his mark.

In the recent Qatar GP practice, Francesco Bagnaia showcased a strong performance, narrowly surpassing the pace of Marc Marquez. This follows a challenging start to the season, where Bagnaia had been in his team-mate’s shadow. His recent victory at the Americas GP and his improved showing in Qatar may signify the beginning of a competitive rivalry between the two riders.

Bagnaia articulated that he felt “very close” to the pace of Marquez after securing his best performance of the season during Friday’s practice. He exhibited confidence in his riding and quickly advanced into Q2, recovering from previous near-misses in earlier races this season. Notably, he outperformed Marquez in a psychological boost, a significant shift compared to their previous outings.

Despite Franco Morbidelli finishing ahead of both Bagnaia and Marquez in the practice results, the factory Ducatis exhibited strong potential. Bagnaia and Marquez opted not to conduct a final run with soft tires, further indicating their competitive stance as the weekend unfolded. Bagnaia remarked on the difficulty of analyzing their true pace due to tire testing but expressed optimism about their close proximity to the fastest competitors.

Historically, Marquez has not displayed dominance in Qatar, winning there only once during his MotoGP career. He acknowledged in a press conference that this season’s circuit could favor Bagnaia, asserting that both Bagnaia and Alex Marquez may have an upper hand based on their historical results in Doha.

Francesco Bagnaia’s impressive performance in Qatar GP practice demonstrated his capability to contend with Marc Marquez, marking a significant moment in the season. His positive momentum following a recent victory, alongside a resurgence in confidence, may herald a more competitive relationship between the two Ducati riders. As the Qatar GP approaches, all eyes will be on whether Bagnaia can maintain this upward trajectory amidst strong competition from both Marquez and Morbidelli.

Original Source: www.motorsport.com