Pecco came within a whisker of success
During the first lap of the United States GP Sprint race, Ducati lost Marc Marquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio because the nine-time world champion, after receiving an aggressive overtake in the direction changes from the VR46 rider, tried to respond at Turn-12, resulting in a front-end tuck, a slide that dynamically involved the Italian rider as well.
The Borgo Panigale manufacturer, however, still came within a whisker of victory thanks to a rediscovered Francesco Bagnaia, who saw success vanish only on the last lap when he was overtaken by Jorge Martin. A nice little scene then took place with the Spaniard at the end of the race before the awards ceremony. “Did you have the medium tire? F*ck you”, the words of a Bagnaia who was nonetheless smiling and loudly applauded by all the Ducati men.
“I am happy, we have done very well so far, maybe I gave too much during the first laps – Pecco’s words to Sky – the problem so far in the first races has been the time-attack, which I don’t do very well with this bike because it pushes a lot into the corner entry. Starting further forward and being able to set my pace as the race leader certainly made the difference. Martin’s overtake at the end? I tried to defend myself, but I don’t have eyes in the back of my head. I knew he was coming, I tried to be as fast as possible in the first section of the track to try to contain him. Marc Marquez and Di Giannantonio crashed, but I think in any case I would have managed to stay in the top-3 today.”
Read more 2026 United States GP: the Sprint report
