Francesco 'Pecco' Bagnaia signed off from the Pull&Bear Aspar Team today with a dream after a sporting bet made at the start of the season. The team promised the Italian a ride on the MotoGP™ Ducati if he managed two Moto3™ wins in 2016 and today he was rewarded at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo.
Bagnaia, who finished fourth in the Moto3™ World Championship after victory in Assen and at Sepang, took to the track at 10.30am for a run of nine laps. The Italian was impressed by the acceleration and braking power of the Ducati, improving from a 1’40.969 on his first lap to an eventual best of 1’36.940.
Now you have got off the bike, how do you feel?
Francesco Bagnaia: "It was incredible – I have to say thanks to the Aspar Team and Ducati. I did nine laps with a best time of 1’36.940. If it was down to me I would still be out there turning laps, even though after just nine laps I am drained because it is very physically demanding."
Could you sleep last night?
FB21: "I had a look at the bike last night and I was looking forward to getting out on track. I woke up this morning at 5am and started thinking about the test. Luckily I had already spoken to Valentino Rossi before I came to Valencia to know how to ride the first few laps. That was useful, especially with regard to the braking."
What are the main differences to the Moto3 bike?
FB21: "The thing that impressed me most about the MotoGP bike is the acceleration and the braking. It is scary because it feels like the whole world is stopping around you. Compared with the Moto3 bike you have to be really careful getting this one stopped because you don’t need as much brake pressure. Also, when you open the gas it is impressive. In Moto3 you have time to do everything but here you open the gas and it’s time to brake. It is incredible how it brakes, how it turns and the feeling from the front end…"
You went really fast from the start…
FB21: "Yes, my top speed was 315 km/h. I’ve never been that fast before, not even on a train! I knew it was fast, but not that fast."