Bagnaia as soon as once more went head-to-head with Pramac counterpart Jorge Martin and Gresini Ducati’s Marc Marquez for prime honours in Sunday’s French GP at Le Mans.
Martin finally got here out on prime on this battle to attain his second grand prix win of the season and lengthen his championship result in 38 factors over Bagnaia.
Bagnaia, having led for a lot of the 27 laps, discovered himself demoted to 3rd on the ultimate tour by Marquez, who now sits third within the standings and 40 factors behind Martin after 5 rounds.
The reigning double world champion believes he, Martin and Bagnaia have been the very best of the grid in 2024 when it comes to consistency and reckons Le Mans will act as a preview to the title battle this season.
“For me, in the intervening time, we three are essentially the most full riders within the championship,” he mentioned.
“Different riders are quick sufficient to have an ideal efficiency and are capable of win races.
“However I believe when it comes to velocity and consistency – Jorge extra – we’re essentially the most full riders and with out the crash of Jorge at Jerez, [the Spanish GP top three] was the identical consequence I believe, the identical guys preventing [as today].
“So, I believe for the championship it will likely be kind of like this.”
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Bagnaia seized the holeshot from second on the grid and led Martin for the primary 20 laps earlier than Martin made a transfer stick at Flip 3 on the twenty first tour.
The manufacturing unit Ducati rider says he struggled an excessive amount of by way of sector three – and significantly Flip 9 the place Marquez overtook him on the final lap – to have an opportunity at successful.
However having not completed Saturday’s dash because of a motorcycle problem, which he labelled “harmful” on the time, Bagnaia acknowledges that ending the grand prix was crucial factor for him.
“Sector three was my weak level,” he defined.
“Yesterday it was a great level however immediately I wasn’t robust in nook 9 and I used to be dropping an excessive amount of time.
“So, I used to be attempting to do the utmost. Sector one and sector two have been mine, however the quantity of hole I used to be dropping in sector three was an excessive amount of.
“It’s one thing to enhance, however we now have time and contemplating that yesterday we didn’t do the dash immediately it was vital to complete the race.”
