Francesco Bagnaia believes the additional grip provided by Michelin’s new rear tyre is contributing to MotoGP riders crashing extra usually than typical in 2024.
Championship chief Bagnaia suffered one other crash out of a number one place in Saturday’s dash for the British Grand Prix, shedding the entrance of his manufacturing facility Ducati going into Flip 4 (The Loop) whereas working fourth on lap 5.
It introduced an early finish to the half-distance race for the Italian rider, slashing his benefit to only one level over Pramac rival Jorge Martin forward of Sunday’s grand prix at Silverstone.
Unforced accidents have turn out to be a typical theme in MotoGP this 12 months, with Bagnaia’s title challenger Martin additionally having three notable falls within the first a part of the 12 months – together with within the previous race in Germany when he was main.
Whereas Bagnaia praised the grippier rear tyre launched by Michelin this 12 months, which has led to long-held lap information falling at a variety of venues, he additionally feels the elevated velocity is likely to be inflicting extra crashes.
“To begin with the brand new rear tyre are unbelievable, however are making us crash extra as a result of the rear is pushing loads the entrance [of the bike],” he stated,
“At the moment, the primary three guys completed the race with eight seconds to the fourth. So on this second, the velocity that some guys are having is unbelievable.
“I feel we by no means noticed one thing like that, it is tremendous spectacular, I find it irresistible.
“However the threat of crash is all the time there.”
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Bagnaia, nevertheless, did maintain his hand up and concede that it was his error that pressured him out of the race, as he was merely carrying an excessive amount of velocity into the left-hander after setting a brand new quickest lap on the earlier tour.
“I did a mistake, actually,” he admitted. “All of the weekend, in nook 4 I have been very quick.
“On this lap, I simply exaggerated a bit the road, I used to be extra near the apex earlier than. I anticipated coming into and I misplaced the entrance.”
He added: “I did an excellent begin, however the rear-height machine did not interact so I did nook one and two with the bike in decrease place, so I used to be fourth. After which I struggled with rear grip for first lap and a half.
“Then all the things went good once more, I closed the hole, I used to be super-fast, however as quickly as I arrived at nook 4, I crashed.
“So [it was] my mistake, I already stated sorry to my workforce as a result of they, like all the time, are doing an ideal job.”
Tyre alternative is integral for riders across the lengthy and winding Silverstone circuit, which takes heavy toll on the Michelin rubber.
Bagnaia went for the safer medium possibility, like nearly all of the sector, however felt that it was going to be a compromise irrespective of which tyre he picked.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Crew
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
“We do not have the right entrance tyre, as a result of the temperature will not be permitting us to race with the laborious,” he stated.
“However the medium is unusual and the mushy after two laps is completed [so there are no good options].
“I feel the medium was the right alternative, however at this second I used to be exiting too quick from nook three, and after I simply entered nook 4 I used to be 3km/h sooner.
“That’s like nothing however extra near the apex that I misplaced.”
