Bagnaia has enjoyed a purple stain lately, taking back-to-back wins at Aragon and Misano, while adding a third consecutive podium finish with third place at the Grand Prix of the Americas last Sunday.
However, with Quartararo finishing second and expanding his lead in the championship to 52 points over Bagnaia, the Yamaha rider has his first chance to claim the title at the upcoming Emilia Romagna GP.
At the MotoE final in Misano three weeks ago, Dominique Aegerter collided with Jordi Torres on the final lap and took the title – only to be punished after the race, which gave Torres successive titles in the series.
When asked if he would have to take risky steps at Quartararo to keep his title hopes alive, Bagnaia said: “I’m only here to try to fill this gap that is seemingly impossible to fill.
“But I’m just trying … I’m more relaxed than Fabio, I think because Fabio has to think about the championship.
“I just have to think to be as competitive as possible and I’m not saying Fabio isn’t relaxed, but I think I’m calmer.
“I certainly won’t do something like Aegerter, because if you have the opportunity to overtake, you overtake, and if you don’t have it, it’s too risky to do something.
“We don’t have eight or seven points between us, we have 50, so I think I don’t have to do that.”
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Factory Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Dorna
Bagnaia added: “I’m not going to give up, but Fabio has done a great job this year.
“He was the best at the start and he’s the one who’s been more consistent, so he’s really a great driver. So he has the opportunity to win.
“We know where we’re going to lose those points, so we’re doing a really good job in the last three or four races, we’re improving, we’re learning.
“So we’re more competitive and Fabio is doing a really great job.”
Quartararo said after his podium in Austin that he “doesn’t need to be obsessed” with winning the Misano title later this month and approaching the race like any other.