Bagnaia as soon as once more went face to face with Pramac counterpart Jorge Martin and Gresini Ducati’s Marc Marquez for prime honours in Sunday’s French GP at Le Mans.
Martin finally got here out on prime on this battle to attain his second grand prix win of the season and lengthen his championship result in 38 factors over Bagnaia.
Bagnaia, having led for a lot of the 27 laps, discovered himself demoted to 3rd on the ultimate tour by Marquez, who now sits third within the standings at 40 factors behind Martin after 5 rounds.
The reigning double world champion believes himself, Martin and Bagnaia have been one of the best of the grid in 2024 by way of consistency and reckons Le Mans will act as a preview to the title struggle this season.
“For me, in the meanwhile, we three are essentially the most full riders within the championship,” he stated.
“Different riders are quick sufficient to have an ideal efficiency and are in a position to win races.
“However I believe by way of pace and consistency – Jorge extra – we’re essentially the most full riders and with out the crash of Jorge at Jerez, [the Spanish GP top three] was the identical end result I believe, the identical guys preventing [as today].
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“So, I believe for the championship will probably be roughly like this.”
Bagnaia seized the holeshot from second on the grid and led Martin for the primary 20 laps earlier than Martin made a transfer stick at Flip 3 on the twenty first tour.
The manufacturing facility Ducati rider says he struggled an excessive amount of via sector three – and notably Flip 9 the place Marquez overtook him on the final lap – to have an opportunity at profitable.
However having not completed Saturday’s dash on account of a motorbike concern, which he labelled “harmful” on the time, Bagnaia acknowledges that ending the grand prix was an important factor for him.
“Sector three was my weak level,” he defined.
“Yesterday it was level however as we speak I wasn’t sturdy in nook 9 and I used to be shedding an excessive amount of time.
“So, I used to be making an attempt to do the utmost. Sector one and sector two have been mine, however the quantity of hole I used to be shedding in sector three was an excessive amount of.
“It’s one thing to enhance, however we now have time and contemplating that yesterday we didn’t do the dash as we speak it was vital to complete the race.”