MotoGP News: Francesco Bagnaia - 'The Situation In Qualifying Right Now Is Quite Ridiculous'

Saajan Jogia | Aug 4, 2024

Apr 12, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Francesco Bagnaia (1) of Italy and Ducati Lenovo Team during practice for the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia was furious after the British Grand Prix qualifying at Silverstone, citing a towing issue. He accused rival MotoGP riders of deliberately slowing down on the circuit to gain a tow from him, thereby elevating his frustration.

The 27-year-old rider looked forward to starting the race from the front after smashing the lap record on his first run. However, the tactics employed by some of his rivals on Saturday and a loose sticker on his visor made things difficult for Bagnaia.

During his initial run at Silverstone, Bagnaia was immediately pursued by Marc Marquez, but as he embarked on his final qualifying attempt, several riders were visibly waiting to slipstream behind him, hoping to gain performance.

While these tactics frustrated Bagnaia, what added to his anger was a loose sponsorship sticker on his visor that ruined his flying lap attempts, consequently ranking him in second place below Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro, who secured pole position.

While Bagnaia commended Espargaro for securing pole position, he also expressed his frustration over the towing issue, criticizing how such tactics undermine the integrity of competition in MotoGP's premier class. He conveyed a sense of helplessness, stating that the situation would persist unless decisive action is taken. He told the media:

“We have to say Aleix did an amazing sector 4 and all the weekend has been really fast. We know that the Aprilia on this track is fantastic.

“I also have to say that the situation in qualifying right now is quite ridiculous considering that 10 MotoGP riders can go slow like this to follow other riders. We are at the top of our sport.

“If we are here because we can do things alone. It’s quite ridiculous, the situation.

“'Till anyone says anything, it will continue like.”

As Bagnaia began his first flying lap of the second qualifying session, he had to pull over to the side of the track to remove a partially detached sticker above his visor. Any chance of reclaiming pole position from Espargaro was thwarted by a late yellow flag caused by a crash involving Maverick Vinales on the second factory Aprilia.

The Ducati rider angrily criticized the person responsible for managing the stickers, insisting they needed to be more "precise" in their job. He warned that losing a better qualifying position due to such avoidable issues was unacceptable. He added:

“I lost the sponsor banner on the helmet and it goes in front of the eyes.

“I’m very angry for that because it’s something that who had to manage these kind of things has to be more precise.

“Losing the possibility of a better result in qualifying for things like this is not good.”