Italian derby
Everyone expected Marc Marquez and Ducati, but the best time on Friday at Aragon was set by Marco Bezzecchi, with Aprilia. The rider from Rimini signed the new track record and enjoyed the not insignificant satisfaction of beating – albeit by a few thousandths – the two Marquez brothers, Alex and Marc. However, Bezzecchi’s feat should not erase the apparent technical supremacy of the Borgo Panigale bikes on the Spanish track: behind Aprilia #72 there are indeed four Ducatis one after the other.
This fact was also ‘claimed’ by the Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi, who was interviewed by Sky Sport MotoGP at the end of the Practice. While acknowledging Aprilia’s value, Tardozzi showed confidence regarding Ducati’s ambitions for this weekend: “Aprilia further ahead than expected here? As I have always said, Aprilia has done an excellent job – explained Tardozzi – but I would say that there are four Ducatis in the top five positions and I believe this is indicative. And as I have always said and I reiterate, Aprilia is an excellent bike as Ducati is; this is shown by the position of our riders. That said, there are tracks where they are favored and tracks where we are favored. We have excellent riders just like they do“.
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Bagnaia’s troubles
The only real disappointment of the day for Ducati came, once again, from Francesco Bagnaia. The three-time world champion only achieved the 13th time in Practice, failing to qualify directly for Q2. Tardozzi commented on this result by once again highlighting the lack of feeling of the Chivasso champion: “Pecco is currently struggling to have confidence with the bike. There are situations that do not satisfy him and we also know historically that when Pecco is not right, he does not have the right grip or the entry speed into the corner that allows him to be calm in going beyond the limit – as all his colleagues do – he prefers to ‘wait’ a moment. Now it is up to us to try to find something to give him this confidence“.
