A podium at Mugello on the Ducati would be a dream for every Italian rider. Francesco Bagnaia made it today on the Pramac team bike … shame it was just a video game. Pecco took on and took on the challenge with video games by participating in an experiment dedicated to fans going through a racing retreat.
“If it had been a video game, I would have made the top podium years ago! “ he said jokingly. “I’ve always played in MotoGP and got a lot of podiums, but real life is different.”
A podium at Mugello with Ducati is every Italian rider’s dream.
“That’s right, and also with a fall. That means I was faster than everyone else. Repetition wouldn’t be bad. “
If we were at a press conference, we would ask you: “What was missing for a win?”
“Alex Marquez drove really cleanly. I’ve made too many mistakes. It was right that he won. After the first lap I was calm. I wanted to attack in the end, but I couldn’t. I have to make up for that. “
Can you also blame the tires in a virtual race?
“Unfortunately not. They’re the same for everyone and the engines won’t break down. There’s no excuse. There was also a power balance so all bikes were the same.”
And the constellations?
“I confess I asked Andrea Severi, the eSport champion who rides a Ducati, for a good one, but I probably wasn’t the only one. Marquez, Quartararo and Vinales must also have had the same idea. It’s been a long time since I’ve played in MotoGP and it’s been tough. It is MotoGP is almost more difficult to drive in a video game than in real life!“.
Was it a good experience anyway?
“It was more of an initiative for the fans than for us drivers. I liked it and we should do it more often, with longer races, not just 6 laps. I heard there was going to be another race in a couple of weeks and I will definitely be there. “
How do you spend these days moving from virtual to real life?
“I watch films, TV series, play with the Playstation and try to train as best I can. I keep in touch with the other drivers and with my friends. “
How did you react to the news of the cancellation of the first race in Qatar?
“I was ready to go when they told me. It was shocking. In the first few days it was difficult to even find the motivation to go to the gym. The first week was the hardest. “
Will it be weird to race again after such a long stop?
“In a way, it’s like a winter break, maybe even longer. The problem will be that we will start again without a test. We start with the race weekend. Physically we will be less ready. The tests and races will be hard. “
There is also the possibility of having many races close together.
“We have to know how to cope with it mentally, but I also think that everyone will want to get back on a bike. We have to find out how many races we’re going to do. I don’t know if racing in Valencia at the end of November is a good idea, but these are all minor issues. The most important thing is that it works and that we can start all over again. “
How does this hiatus affect your future as you don’t yet have a contract for 2021?
“It would be worse if we were racing and I had no contact. We’re all standing still and the driver market will just keep developing. My goal is to stay with Ducati and work hard to get into the official team. “
Can you do “homework” from a technical point of view today?
“I know practically all of my races by heart,” he laughed. “I’ve seen and reviewed it billions of times. Last week I heard from my technical director, Cristian Gabarrini, and we had a bit of a chat, even if it’s hard not to see the dates, but you can be generic. “