The duel between Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín since last season has often been praised for the correction expressed between the two men. Although very different in their personalities, it is with fair play that they fight, always quick to salute the successes of the other and highlighting clean driving, as during their superb duel at Sepang ago two weeks.
Despite the obvious bitterness that shows through in his reaction after the race which marked his defeat in the championship, the Italian driver did not fail to greet his opponent once again. An opponent he knows perfectly well since both were roommates when they made their world debut, then teammates in the Aspar team in the Moto3 category. Their relationship may have weakened over time, but there remains a mutual respect between them from which they make a point of never deviating.
“He deserves everything he has achieved this season,” says Bagnaia to the official MotoGP website, with an immediate thought for the Madrilenian's family, whose modest origins and trying journey he knows. “I'm happy that he won this title because I think he deserves it. He's a great guy, with a great family, we know each other very well and they deserve the title. Jorge had a fantastic season, he was very consistent, he understood the situations well, he was better than me in certain areas, so total respect because it was a fair battle and it was great.”
In the parc ferme, Bagnaia stood aside and seemed to observe the new world champion between smiling and dejected, even refusing to steal the spotlight by delivering a comment on the victory he had just won.
Asked shortly after about the thoughts that were going through him at that precise moment, the now vice-world champion explained: “I was just watching Jorge. We know each other very well and if anyone other than me had to win the title, I'm happy it's him. He deserves it, he did a fantastic job.”
“I was just smiling seeing him celebrate that, because I know how beautiful that moment is. You try to achieve that goal your whole life and when you achieve it, those are the most beautiful emotions you can have feel. So I was just smiling at what he achieved.”
