Francesco Bagnaia managed to leave the Malaysian MotoGP with a 14-point lead over Jorge Martín (Pramac/Ducati) in the title fight – one more than he had coming to Sepang. However, the Ducati rider is aware that it is still not a significant margin.
The defending champion said in a press conference that his current gap is very tiny: ‘We have to wait until Valencia. For sure 14 points are more than nothing or being behind. It’s not too much. If it was the normal season with one race [per weekend] it would be a good gap to manage. But with 37 points each weekend it isn’t too much, it’s a very small gap’.
For the next round, Bagnaia wants to repeat the performance he had in Sepang: ‘In Qatar it will be important to start working like we did this weekend, trying to understand everything already Friday and being in the top like we did this weekend – maybe the pole position again, or it will be important to start from the front row. And then in the race try to push like we did today, having a great battle. Qatar will be new for everyone due to the new tarmac, new tyres. Let’s see’.