Francesco Bagnaia has been a rider on the official Ducati team since last season and after debuting in such conditions he managed to fight for the MotoGP riders’ title. Although he lost the championship at home to Fabio Quartararo, what the #63 has shown throughout this last season, and not only, led the Borgo Panigale manufacturer to renew his contract until the end of 2024.
However, ‘Pecco’ – the nickname he is known for – is more than an elite rider, he is also someone who has his tastes, passions and curiosities that go beyond the circuits. In a set of ten aspects collected by motogp.com, you can find out more about who is one of the candidates for the title for 2022:
1. Bagnaia likes to collect series of books, having in his collection autobiographies of great sportsmen. Still in the culture, pop, rock, hip-hop/rap and metal are the musical genres preferred by the athlete.
2. In addition to collecting books, the 2021 runner-up is also adept at collecting sneakers from the most diverse brands.
3. Despite being a motorcyclist, Francesco Bagnaia is fond of football – he is a fan of Juventus – basketball, skiing, running, fishing and snowboarding. He is also a fan of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
4. «Go Free» is the life motto of the Ducati athlete that is stamped on his racing suit. The expression in question was said to him at the 2016 Japanese GP by a local girl.
5. One of Bagnaia’s passions is cooking. Just as in a test climate, parts are tested, tunings, etc., in the kitchen Bagnaia likes to experiment and get out of the routine. Also because he is Italian, ‘Pecco’ is an unconditional fan of pasta!
6. It is no longer new that riders and teams have in their structure someone, commonly known as a ‘coach’, who supports a certain rider throughout the weekend. In the specific case of Bagnaia (and also Jack Miller), the Italian had the support of Casey Stoner – twice world champion – in the last two races of the previous season. In addition to the former rider, Bagnaia also had the support of Stefano Manzi.
7. The current Borgo Panigale rider has changed his number several times throughout his career. An unconditional fan of Noriyuki Haga, Bagnaia came to race with the #41 on the front of his bike. When he reached the World Championship, he moved to #21 as a tribute to Troy Bayliss. Moving up to Moto2, he doubled that number and raced with the #42 for now in MotoGP to boast the #63 on his Ducati.
8. In a sporting life characterized by reaching dizzying speeds, ‘Pecco’ is also a fan of ‘sailing in calm waters’ and disconnecting a little from the adrenaline of riding a racing prototype. When he wants to get away from what characterizes a riders career, Bagnaia likes to spend a nice evening with his grandparents.
9. As a rider, the Turin-born athlete has the clear ambition of becoming the MotoGP World Champion after winning the title in the Moto2 category. However, there are other feats that Bagnaia is happy to achieve: racing on the tracks of Laguna Seca and Suzuka, as well as riding the Desmosedici GP in the 2003 and 2007 seasons.
10. Back to culture, the 2021 runner-up is also a big fan of cinema, as well as television shows. Gladiator, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars are some of the movies/franchises that the #63 is a big fan of.