MotoGP Le Mans: Poncharal blasts Francesco Bagnaia’s factory, satellite comments as ‘nonsense’
Herve Poncharal was ‘shocked’ by reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia’s comments that he would like "a bigger gap between the factory and satellite bikes".
Bagnaia made the surprising claim when speaking to Italian media after Sunday’s French MotoGP race.
The Ducati star, who crashed out after tangling with (fellow factory rider) Maverick Vinales over third place, was speaking generally about how to reduce the number of early race incidents when he said:
“A rider behind you, that doesn’t have the potential, is looking to pass six riders in one lap. And it doesn’t work like this. Because we are all on the limit, looking for the maximum goal.
“And if I’m braking on the limit, especially in the first part of the race, it’s wrong to try and brake beyond this limit.
“If you look, the incidents are mainly in the first part of the races, because there is a lot of agitation. We should think about trying to improve this situation, because it’s not safe like this.
“One thing I think is that, from the first bike to the last, everyone can win. There is no longer a 6 or 7 tenths gap between the factory and satellite bikes.
“That was useful, honestly, because the ‘Fantastic 4’ [Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa] were born because they were the strongest, but they also had factory bikes.
“Meanwhile the others were further behind, because they didn’t have the potential, but they also didn’t have the same technical level.
“Now the level is extreme. With all the aerodynamics everything is on the limit. Every rider has a chance of winning. For example, Augusto Fernandez was fourth today, he’s a world champion but he’s also a rookie.
“I mean, the pace wasn’t that fast, apart from Bezzecchi. And he just did the pace we all expected. The others were slow and that keeps the group together.
“So in my opinion I’d like a bigger gap between the factory and satellite bikes. Or at least to find a solution to avoid these kind of incidents.”
. So nice to have a track where passing opportunities isn't just in one or 2 corners or brute strength down the straights. Great race from GasGas as well
