Francesco Bagnaia Outpaces Marc Marquez in Qatar GP Practice

Francesco Bagnaia achieved a remarkable performance in Qatar GP practice, outpacing teammate Marc Marquez. Following a victorious outing at the Americas GP, Bagnaia expressed confidence in his speed. Both he and Marquez’s factory Ducatis showed strong capabilities, suggesting a competitive season ahead, especially with historical data favoring Bagnaia. This marked his important breakthrough for the season.

Francesco Bagnaia has demonstrated promising performance during the Qatar GP practice, edging past Marc Marquez’s pace. Following a challenging start to the season, Bagnaia’s morale-boosting victory at the Americas GP has set the stage for a potentially competitive season. In his recent practice sessions, he has expressed confidence in his ability to keep up with Marquez, stating he is “very close” to matching his teammate’s speed.

On the first day of action in Qatar, Bagnaia swiftly found his rhythm and moved directly into Q2, unlike his earlier performances where he struggled to break into the top 10 in Thailand, Argentina, and the USA. Notably, during Practice, Bagnaia registered a time marginally faster than that of Marquez, despite Marquez having a stronger showing in an earlier session. This marks an important psychological boost for Bagnaia, reaffirming his potential for improvement.

Despite Franco Morbidelli slightly outperforming them in this session, both Bagnaia and Marquez’s factory Ducati teams chose not to engage in a final run with soft tires. This decision underscores their confidence in their bike’s capabilities, with Bagnaia remarking, “It’s difficult to understand and analyze [our] pace because today we had to try the tires. But for the first time [this season], I’m very close.”

Historically, Marquez has not dominated in Qatar, securing only one MotoGP win in Doha. At a recent press conference, he acknowledged the potential for Bagnaia to excel in this round, stating, “It’s the first circuit [this year] where, theoretically, Alex and Pecco are better than me [according to] historical results.”

The day’s events indicate Bagnaia’s critical breakthrough, suggesting that the competition among factory Ducatis may intensify, especially as Alex Marquez has been leading the championship. With the season progressing, the rivalry between Bagnaia and Marquez could prove to be a key storyline in upcoming races.

Francesco Bagnaia has made a significant advancement in performance during the Qatar GP practice, surpassing Marc Marquez’s pace. His recent victory at the Americas GP has instilled confidence, indicating a competitive season ahead. With both factory Ducatis showing strong capabilities, the rivalry is set to become a prominent narrative, particularly as historical performance data suggests advantages for Bagnaia and Alex Marquez. This season may mark a turning point for Bagnaia in his quest to consistently match and surpass Marquez.

Original Source: www.motorsport.com