Francesco Bagnaia believes the switch of venue from Valencia to Barcelona offers him an extra glimmer of hope in his unlikely bid to overhaul Jorge Martin in the points race at the last round.
Factory Ducati rider Bagnaia closed the gap to Martin to 24 points with a win in Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix, keeping the Italian’s hopes alive in the championship battle.
But Martin will be a strong favourite with such an advantage. Outscoring Bagnaia by two points in the Saturday sprint on the final weekend would be enough for the Pramac Ducati man.
However, the venue for the finale is set to be switched from Valencia to Barcelona at short notice following the catastrophic floods in the city that traditionally plays host to the last race.
Bagnaia, who realistically needs a mistake from Martin to have a chance of a third straight title, feels the move to Barcelona opens up exactly that possibility.
“Mathematically [the title] is still possible,” said Bagnaia. “We know it’s quite difficult, but anything can happen in Barcelona.
“I do normally perform better at Barcelona, but it’s a more tricky circuit where [you can be very close to] making mistakes, so you have to be more precise.”
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Bagnaia pointed to his own accident there at the Catalan Grand Prix in June, when he fell at Turn 5 on the final lap.
“I crashed there in the sprint race when I had a one-second lead, even though I was trying to avoid any mistakes.
“It will be tricky; the conditions will be tougher compared to [May] because it will be cold. And two corners there are quite tricky, Turn 2 and Turn 5.
“It will be important to try to be competitive but still calm.”
Failing a major mistake by Martin, Bagnaia is well aware that his only hope will be to take maximum points while other riders push Martin further down the field.
“We still have a chance, but we really need some help from others. [Otherwise] if I win Jorge will finish second because we are at another level.
“So I will try to help everybody during the weekend and lend my slipstream that someone can follow. I just need someone to get between me and Jorge.”
Bagnaia said one rider who wouldn’t be on his side would be local racer Aleix Espargaro, who will get a bonus farewell on home ground before heading into retirement.
“I know Aleix will be strong in Barcelona and will help Jorge all weekend,” Bagnaia said of the Aprilia rider.