Bright new hope for Ducati – and for Italy

What a difference a year makes! Twelve months ago, people were questioning whether or not Francesco Bagnaia would cut it as a factory rider. It was a surprise promotion after a rollercoaster 2020 at the satellite Pramac Ducati squad, which comprised a maiden podium, crashing out of a comfortable lead at Misano, five DNFs from 11 races and a fractured tibia.

Fast-forward to 2022 and Pecco is Ducati’s best chance of a first MotoGP Riders’ Championship in 15 years. Now, he’s one of, if not the, championship favourites after a phenomenal 2021. And phenomenal is absolutely the right word to use as well. The Italian won four of the final six races and took five consecutive pole positions prior to the final round in Valencia. He dominated races, but arguably his most impressive achievement came at Aragon, when he held off Marc Marquez for an entire race. Not just any race. Marquez’s home race. A track where he has won six times before in MotoGP.

Such is Ducati’s confidence in him, he wrapped up a new multi-year contract before the 2022 season even started. For a manufacturer known for hastily showing people the door, that’s a huge sign of belief in the 25 year old.

Bagnaia already likes the GP22 too, a bike which is essentially building on near perfection. At both winter tests Bagnaia showed fast, consistent race pace and worked on the bike, rather than attempting to top the timesheets every day. “My race pace is very strong; I know we are competitive. Our strengths are the same as last year,” Bagnaia said at Mandalika.

So, he has the team, the bike and the ability, the question now is whether he can handle the pressure of being the title favourite. Getting a new contract nice and early will help. That’s one massive weight off his mind, a luxury teammate, Jack Miller, won’t have. But Bagnaia’s made mistakes before in two races which should have been victories, so he’ll be wary of that, but if he starts 2022 like he ended 2021 it’s hard to see him repeating those errors. He’s matured and knows he’s capable now.

Like all of the VR46 Academy riders, he’ll also have the support of not only Rossi, but also his army of fans now that The Doctor has retired. That counts for a lot. It’s not his to lose, but Bagnaia has a fantastic chance of becoming Italy’s first champion since 2009.

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PECCO BAGNAIA

DUCATI