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Pecco Bagnaia has started his 2024 season in the best way possible: first the renewal with Ducati, then the victory in Qatar which allowed him to head the championship table. He has a challenging season ahead of him with many opponents to face in order to reconfirm himself as champion. Everyone's eyes are on the possible challenge with Marc Marquez, who has arrived on a Ducati to kick-start his career.
“My goal is to beat them all. Marc has a great list of successes, but he is an opponent like Martin, Binder, like everyone else - declared Pecco in an interview with La Stampa - There is a lot of talk about Marquez, but there are many opponents".
Even very young ones, like Acosta, protagonist of a surprising debut in Qatar, or Aldeguer, who will arrive next year.
“It's normal, someone younger than you will always come along with the same ambitions and desire as you and with the potential to overtake you, it's a cycle. The only one who always managed to adapt was Valentino who went through two or three cycles" observed Pecco.
Will Pecco also race until he’s 40 like his maestro? “I don't know, I have another 13 years left to get there. At the moment, my ambition is to reach the age of 35, then whatever will be will be” was his reply.
The declared aim is to continue to be the best, to complete that world championship hat-trick achieved by few. However, there is another goal that he is sure he cannot reach: a gold medal at the Olympics.
“I would like to win a gold medal, it would be wonderful to have a race where it was up for grabs, unfortunately it is difficult to organize” the Ducati rider regretted.
There are other goals to reach and he is not short of challenges. After all, together with Sinner, he is one of the representatives of Italian sport in the world and the two have points in common.
“In my opinion we are similar in character, we are both reserved. People complain about the fact that there are no characters, but it doesn't mean that I want to be one - explained Bagnaia - I want to be myself and win, it seems to me that Jannik is on the same wavelength as me. He works, tries to improve, if he doesn't win he learns: it's the best you can ask for from an athlete. I'm not interested in being a character who responds badly in front of the cameras or gets cocky."
