Let's talk MotoGP: Pecco Bagnaia lost the battle… against himself

Despite eighteen victories this season, including eleven on Sunday, Pecco Bagnaia lost the MotoGP world title. Two years later, he had to pass the number 1 to his rival Jorge Martin, not without having fiercely defended him. After having been interested, precisely, in the case of the “Martinator”, we will now look at Pecco Bagnaia because questions must be asked, moments must be analyzed, and lessons must be learned. For two days, Italian will be our main subject and it starts right away.

A weekend that reflects its season

Firstly, I wanted to congratulate him, too, on his incredible campaign. This is one of the best of all time, with the numbers to back it up. His total of eleven Sunday victories follows Jorge Lorenzo's eight in 2013, making it the greatest number of victories won in a season without a title at the end. It stings. But first, the greatness; afterward, the pain.

Greatness, because his weekend in Barcelona, which everyone will have forgotten in a week, was just sensational. He couldn't do better. On a circuit which sometimes resisted him (remember this fall, alone in the lead, in the final lap of the Sprint earlier in the season), even when injured, he stood out and did not hesitate to remember that it is arguably the best driver in the world.

If it can make him hungry for 2025 and the Marquez challenge… Photo: Michelin Motorsport

Yes, you read that correctly. I still consider Bagnaia the best driver in the world, and I will explain myself. Firstly, never in history has being crowned champion made someone the best. These are two completely different things, which often overlap, but not always. There are dozens of examples in motorcycling sports alone, of
Wayne Rainey has Nicky Hayden passing through Joan Mir. This is also the case in Formula 1 with John Surtees, Phil
Hill or Keke Rosbergamong others. Then, because this season, Martin was not able to contain Bagnaia. Exactly like in Barcelona, Jorge was unable to do anything in the vast majority of races – and even many Sprints. I'm not saying Martin doesn't deserve, nor that he does not make a fine champion! We simply have to know how to accept this fact, which has been widely verified throughout history.

Hence the title of this article, which follows a weekend like its season. SIn my opinion, it was Bagnaia who lost this championship, and not Martin who won it. To tell the truth, it doesn't matter if it was Martin, Marquez or anyone else, Bagnaia would still have lost to any opponent who was even a little regular and fast. Can anyone blame me for these comments, when one driver has 18 victories compared to 10 for the other? Can anyone blame me for thinking that the best driver is not the one who has 16 second places in the year? Can I be damned when, when both crossed the line on Sunday, Bagnaia finished ahead of Martin ten times, while the opposite scenario only happened on four occasions?

This Solidarity Grand Prix was the perfect example of this phenomenon. Martin finished champion, but Bagnaia was better. Only he could scuttle himself, and he alone scuttled himself. What was supposed to happen happened, even though I didn't see it coming. I must admit that I was wrong in my predictions.

A different heritage?

For this Grand Prix where the main mission was to be worthy in order to pay tribute to the Valencian Community, Bagnaia lived up to the event. Apart from the fact that he is a student of Valentino Rossi, I don't understand how anyone can come to hate such a pilotcertainly not helped by his employer (but I will have the opportunity to talk about it again).

After the race, he stepped aside to make way for Jorge Martin, and did not fail to congratulate him in the parc ferme.
It's classy, it's Bagnaia. We cannot say that his character will have allowed this end of the season to catch fire,
despite the abundant and disproportionate promotion of DORNAbut at least we celebrated two great champions.

Marquez couldn't do anything about it, but the two followed each other! So it’s possible… Photo: Michelin Motorsport

However, there were reasons to be disgusted, especially since Bagnaia doesn't like to lose, it was quite visible at Le Mans for example. It’s clear that ceding No. 1 to a satellite pilot “doesn’t bother her”. He kept his face, but I think Pecco knows full well that this 2024 season will not help his legacy, the mark he will leave in Grands Prix. Afterwards, it's still a good year, but as they say in the United States, the second is always the first to lose.

I'm curious to know what you think of his legacy if he were to leave the world today.
Tomorrow we'll return to another burning Italian question, so be there. In the meantime, let me know what you think in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial staff.