Francesco Bagnaia gave an exclusive interview to Motorcycle Sports ahead of the Catalunya GP. The Italian rider spoke about many aspects of his personal life and the way he thinks, trains, races and faces the obstacles that arise during his career. He also gave his opinion on the new rules, commented on what he expects from this season and talked about his rivals, Marc Márquez and Jorge Martín.
Journalist
How do you see the championship till now? That you have two big opponents as Jorge Martín and Marc Marquez. Do you think that the story will be different if Marc Marquez has the GP24?
Francesco Bagnaia
I think it’s one of the most nice championships in the last, for a long time, the last few years. I think more competitiveness means more fun. So I’m happy that we found back our feeling that we lost a bit in the second race of the championship, but in the last two races we were very competitive and fast. So I think it’s quite balanced, everything. Martín at the moment is the one that on Saturdays is more competitive and faster. So we have to close this gap a bit, but on Sundays we are all there. So, It will be nice to continue like this and let’s see what will happen. About Mark with the GP24, I think the level and the results could be the same. The difference between the 23 and 24, sincerely, are not that big, like people are saying, are very similar, for sure the 24 have a different potential in some areas, but it’s very balanced and you can go fast in the same level, in different ways but in the same way, with the same lap time.
Journalist
For 2027, the new rules, are you excited or are you a little bit afraid of what’s coming in terms of engine?
Francesco Bagnaia
Honestly, I love the speed and the bikes we have right now. For sure, it will be a decrease in terms of performance and this is not something that makes me happy because I think we are at the top, maximum level of the motorsport and it’s great that we have this kind of performance and reducing it a bit is something that I don’t like but I’m very curious to try, for sure the engineer will find a way to have a very fast bike, the same with less weight so it will be nice.
Journalist
Regarding the teammate, I know that for you, you just said in the past, no matter who it is, it’s what it is the team chooses. But what can be the most comfortable teammate to have between Bastianini, Jorge or Marc?
Francesco Bagnaia
Like I said already, I don’t care. It’s not my job. My job is to beat them all. So whoever will be, will be the same.
Journalist
I work in lifestyle, so it’s a little bit different. You see nowadays as a new kind of rockstar. I mean, you’re cool, you’re famous, you win championships, your style. How do you see yourself nowadays?
Francesco Bagnaia
Honestly, honestly, something that I love. Brands, I love this kind of work, but it’s not 100% mine. I love sneakers, this is true. I love sneakers. Every kind of sneakers. I’m more low profile and at home I can try different things but when I’m here I prefer to be with a Ducati shirt and be fully tipped.
Journalist
And the Italian style?
Francesco Bagnaia
I’m just following my fiancée’s rules, so I don’t choose anything.
Journalist
You say a lot that you are a very regular kind of guy. What is that in this kind of world?
Francesco Bagnaia
For sure it’s something that people prefer, more aggressive or more, American. I don’t, never saying bad words. I prefer to remain like this because I know my potential. My only objective is to beat them, everyone, beat them all. I don’t want to do it with words. I prefer to do it with facts. Not everybody likes it, but I don’t care. I prefer to be like this. I’m really regular also in my life at home. But I love it. I prefer and I would like to continue like this always.
Journalist
You look very competitive. Also in your life?
Francesco Bagnaia
A lot. Too much. My girlfriend doesn’t want to have any kind of fight with me because even when we have to go upstairs I want to arrive first, like always, like a child. So I’m like this and she knows but all the things we do are like this, we train all together with the other academy guys and it’s always the same, we want to arrive first in many things we do and It’s not easy to manage every day of your life.
Journalist
I read that you really like the kitchen. You are like a great chef. What is your next step in terms of kitchen? What are you trying to do?
Francesco Bagnaia
Open restaurant. In Italy and maybe a franchise. Worldwide, competitive always. But I will not be the chef because I have to focus on all the riding.
Journalist
Tell me about your feelings since your last race here in 2023. Because you will have the moment, the decision moment, where you have the accident. I don’t want to talk about this, but again, I have to talk about the emotions that you will leave in that particular time trying to win, you know, so your mental strength on that particular decision?
Francesco Bagnaia
Yeah, it was really tough. I was 66 points ahead of my second championship. Everything was working perfectly. I was so strong, I was fast. Every session I was at the front and then here I was opening the gap still because in the sprint race I was in front of my contender, that was Martin and in the Sunday race I had one of the worst or the worst crash in my career. It was tough, the incident was very scary, but I fought with it last year already. This season I’m not thinking about it, I think this crash will not affect this race weekend. Also because I love this track, so it’s one of my favorites, it’s one of the most characteristic in the calendar. The only thing is the low grip level, but it’s for everybody to say. So it’s the past and I just want to be focused on this season.
Journalist
You said to me that you are almost married, you have a wife, and you will probably have kids. You are starting to think about having a restaurant, having to construct a family outside of the racing track. Tell me about the feelings that you have at the moment that you are trying to cross an athlete, at the moment that you’re trying to have that curve on the accident, those dead feelings, it’s that feeling’s going to mess up with your mind at the challenging moment of trying to pass someone, trying to win the race, you know? What are the mixed feelings inside of that? It’s a pride to have to win, to show to your friends and family, you are here to show to yourself that you are still one of the guys that wanna win a lot of things, you know? What’s the mixed feelings around?
Francesco Bagnaia
I’m very good at separate things. Honestly, when I’m racing, I’m racing. I don’t care about anything. I’m focused and I want to ride first of anyone. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the most important thing is to always be there and fighting for the top positions. Then at home it’s a different story. It’s clear. It’s normal. I’m young because I’m 27 years old and I’ll be married in two months. It’s normal thinking and dreaming about your private life. But my focus is totally on what I’m doing. I won the last two championships. I won, I’m here fighting to win the third one in a row and I will always give my maximum to reach my goals. That at this moment is very important because it’s something for myself, something for Ducati and it’s a dream.
Journalist
It’s a legacy that you will leave to your family and to yourself?
Francesco Bagnaia
Absolutely. So it’s important to continue doing what I’m doing, working hard every day to be ready.
Journalist
Do you work with a mental coach, something like that?
Francesco Bagnaia
No, because I’m very critical of myself. I always want more from myself. My trainer is very good at taking the best part of me out and helping me to grow and improve myself. So it’s something that I don’t need.
Journalist
How do you manage to stay motivated after a tough race?
Francesco Bagnaia
Because when I have a tough race it’s even easier to be more motivated to do a better result in the next one. Honestly, after Le Mans I wasn’t disappointed because I was there fighting for a win and then I lost the position and finished third. So, when I finish third or second, with the potential to win, I’m very very angry with myself and I try to analyze everything in the perfect way possible to improve and be better in the next one.
Journalist
What’s the best moment of your career so far? Don’t tell us the next one!
Francesco Bagnaia
Very, very tough question because I honestly had a lot of really good memories.I won the first championship in 2018, the first win in Moto3, then the first championship in the comeback and the championship in 2022. Last year what happened here in Barcelona was one of the worst but also one of the most important moments. So I have many many things in my mind that have helped me to improve myself.
Journalist
Do you watch any other sports in your free time? Do you have some favorite sports?
Francesco Bagnaia
Formula 1. I love Formula 1, I watch everything about Formula 1, Formula 3, Formula 2. I’m a huge fan of 4 wheels. I love racing a lot, the sessions, the strategies. Formula 1 is my second favorite sport.
Journalist
Who’s your favorite sportsman? Do you have one?
Francesco Bagnaia
Valentino Rossi. It’s like Peter Pan, you know Peter Pan? He’s always young. From his mentality you can understand it and he’s always want more.
Journalist
Morning before the race, are you 100% focused on the race or you’re trying to relax in something else?
Francesco Bagnaia
No, during race weekend I don’t try to relax. I just want to be under pressure. I love to be under pressure because it’s something that not everybody can feel. So it’s a privilege and it’s correct to have the pressure to motivate yourself and try to improve. But during race weekend, Sunday morning is the hardest one because then you have to be prepared for a warm-up, then you have the riders’ parade. You have many things to do before the start. It ‘s lovely.
Journalist
What’s your favorite food to eat after the race?
Francesco Bagnaia
Pasta., pasta in everytime.
Journalist
Which one do you think is more risky to win? Formula 1, although it’s different, four wheels and two wheels, but which one do you think takes more risks? More balls. I’m sorry, my French. Between MotoGP and Formula 1?
Francesco Bagnaia
Have differences, very differences. But I think in terms of risk, MotoGP is much higher because you have two wheels, so it’s easier to… You get the same speed on both of them, right? We have to say that Formula 1 is much faster. Not on the straight, but on corners is another story. But they are closed in a cup, so the risk is high, because the impact that they sometimes have is huge, but less risky because if you have less risk of breaking a collarbone, broke a radio wrist, the risk is quite deep. I think it’s more on a motorbike, but the balls are the pot case, very big, huge balls.
