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2024 MotoGP World Championship
2024 Spanish Grand Prix
Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto
Jerez, Spain
Sunday, 28 April 2024
Ducati Lenovo Team's Francesco Bagnaia admits they have roll up their sleeves to get back on the podium, starting with the
Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, April 28.
The reigning two-time world champion got off to a flying start when he won the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix, having led from lap 1 after overtaking Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin as they went into Turn 3.
But Bagnaia was forced to retire from the Portuguese Grand Prix two weeks later after he collided with Gresini Racing's Marc Marquez on lap 23 of 25 and his bike ended up in the gravel.
The Italian then encountered problems with the Desmosedici GP24 in the Grand Prix of the Americas as vibrations made it difficult for him to navigate the corners on the circuit, while his front tyre started to suffer from wear.
'Pecco' could only manage P5 in Austin and he is currently fifth in the riders' standings on 50 points, 30 behind leader Jorge Martin, who was his main rival last year.
The 27-year-old rider acknowledges he is not as comfortable on the bike this season, but believes he will be challenging the frontrunners once the team is able to identify the issues.
Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
"I made a good start, and until the sixth lap I felt very good, I saw myself fighting for the victory or at least for the podium," Bagnaia said. "But from that moment on ... I started to feel a lot of vibrations and the bike was closing in front.
"The front tire has started to break on the right side, it's something that had not happened to me before, especially not here, so entering the corner was complicated, without forgetting the vibrations on the left side. It seems that this is now normal. Something always happens to us that we have no control over.
"We are still discovering the GP24. They have made changes to the engine and the weight distribution, now the weight is more forward. I like it better this way, but I have to regain confidence in the bike. We have to understand some things.
"It reminds me of the beginning of the 2022 season, when we suffered a lot at the beginning to get points. Today's position is not ours, we should have finished in the first two. We have to roll up our sleeves to achieve it."
2024 Grand Prix of the Americas results:
Winner: Maverick Vinales - Aprilia Racing
Second Place: Pedro Acosta - Red Bull GasGas Tech3
Third Place: Enea Bastianini - Ducati Lenovo Team
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