On Sunday at the Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) has the chance to etch his name in the history books, with Pecco hoping to become the first Italian to win the MotoGP™ title since Valentino Rossi in 2009.
Furthermore, you have to go back to 1972 to recall an Italian rider winning the premier class title on an Italian machine. That rider was MotoGP™ Legend Giacomo Agostini, who was riding for MV Agusta that year. Speaking to Italian MotoGP™ broadcaster Sky Sport, the 15-time World Champion was excited that Pecco could potentially replicate his success with Ducati.
“Bagnaia just needs two points. Quartararo would have to win, which will not be easy. I think that Bagnaia will win the title, which is so important for us,” said Agostini. “It would happen 50 years after my last title on an Italian bike. I hope that Bagnaia will win it, he’s on an Italian bike. It means affirming on the world stage the Italian technology, with an Italian rider. Italians should be proud about it.”
We’ll find out not long after 14:00 local time (GMT+1) on Sunday the 6th of November whether it’ll be Bagnaia or Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) lifting the 2022 trophy.