Pecco Bagnaia admits a race win from Ducati GP23 “will come soon”
Pecco Bagnaia, one of MotoGP’s best drivers, is confident that a victory with the Ducati GP23 is within reach. In a recent interview with Motorsport, Bagnaia expressed his belief that the 2023 bike, which has proven competitive, will soon reach the top of the podium.Marc Marquez, currently one of the leading drivers in GP23, has been close to a victory. Marquez, along with other riders also using last year’s version of the Ducati, such as Alex Marquez, Fabio di Giannantonio, and Marco Bezzecchi, have shown impressive performances in recent races.Bagnaia commented: “I believe victory with the 2023 bike will come soon.
However, the level is currently very high, especially with the new tires, and the GP24 drivers are doing a very special job. We are not alone here; we are not three slow drivers; we are doing a great job.”The same opinion is shared by Enea Bastianini, Bagnaia’s teammate at Ducati. Bastianini recalls the significant modifications made to the bike last year and how they affected its performance. “I agree with Pecco. I remember last year that it was important to take the time to make some modifications to the bike; it was different compared to my bike in Gresini in 2022. But the 2023 bike, for me, compared to the 2024, is very similar, and, well, not much has changed for me. As Pecco said, maybe the 2023 bike could win in the future. But the problem is the rider level on the factory bike.
We are very close, and at the moment, Marc is much faster on the 2023 bike, but for me, the difference is not that big.Jorge Martin, who drives a factory car with the Pramac team, also shared his observations. “I thought [at Mugello] the 2023 bike would be more competitive. Because last year’s direction changed, I was stronger than this season. So this year I had a lot more difficulty with the 2024 bike than last year with the 2023. Now it’s hard to say, but they are very similar.”The previous version of the Ducati has been a regular winner of major awards.
Last year, VR46’s Marco Bezzecchi battled for the 2023 spec single-bike title, while then-Gresini rider Fabio di Giannantonio also won a race. Alex Marquez, on the other hand, achieved two victories in the short races with the GP23.With talented riders like Bagnaia and Marquez on the front lines, the Ducati GP23 continues to show its potential. Expectations are high, and many believe that the first win of the 2023 bike season is closer than ever.
