Bagnaia plots 'aggressive' bid to close MotoGP lead in Indonesia / Photo: BAY ISMOYO - AFP
-
Fire in Northern China Apartment Building Kills 14
-
Solihull Hospital Performs First Robotic-Assisted Gynaecological Cancer Surgeries
-
Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone to Skip Action Button for Camera Control Integration
-
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Admits Infidelity Amid Spy Investigation
-
Family of Woman Who Died at Voting Station Condemns Official Silence
-
Ted Scheinman’s Journey Through Depression and Electroconvulsive Therapy
-
Karen Wazen Launches First Standalone Boutiques in Cairo
-
Phoenix Symphony Resumes Performances Amid Financial Uncertainty
-
New 401k Gold IRA Investment Guide Explains the Best Way to Invest in Gold for Retirement (2026 Update)
-
Making Your Home Safer for Aging Parents: Accessibility Renovations That Add Value
-
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - November 09
-
Top Chef Winner Nicole Gomes Opens Lucky Lily Asian Brasserie at YVR
-
First Drive: 2027 BMW i760 xDrive Review
-
Marc Almond to Close Soft Cell Era After Final 'Danceteria' Tour
-
Gary, Indiana Blackout Exposes FEMA Relief Disparities Along Racial Lines
-
Malta Chamber of Commerce and FIMBank Sign Alliance Agreement to Boost Corporate Finance
-
Turkish Energy Minister Highlights Qatar as Key Partner for Regional and Global Energy Security
-
Rene Eyre Revisits Autobiographical Performance 'Say A Little Prayer' in London
-
London Museum Granted 24/7 License Ahead of November Opening
-
UAE's HCT Holds Record Graduation and Announces Major Training Expansion
Bagnaia plots 'aggressive' bid to close MotoGP lead in Indonesia
Francesco Bagnaia said Thursday he plans to challenge MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin with an aggressive strategy at this weekend's Indonesia Grand Prix as he tries to chip away at the Spaniard's 24-point lead.
Defending champion Bagnaia will be gunning for a repeat performance at the Mandalika International Circuit after winning the race last year to storm further ahead of his Pramac rival in the title race.
But the roles have been reversed this year with Martin racing ahead after Ducati's Bagnaia crashed out at Emilia-Romagna last weekend.
"I think I still need to approach in an aggressive way this part of the season, then after these two races I will maybe change my strategy. But at the moment I have to push a lot," he told reporters.
"I will approach like always, pushing, trying to be competitive and trying to win races. I am now 24 points behind so they are not a lot, but they are also not a few."
Martin was looking to put Emilia-Romagna behind him after he was pipped by Enea Bastianini on the final lap, failing to capitalise more on Bagnaia's dreadful end to the weekend.
"The more pressure I have, the more difficult things become. I try to be more focused on riding, on my feelings," Martin said.
"If I start thinking too much, then I start making mistakes."
Bastianini's second GP win of the season, and seventh of his career, at Misano Adriatico last weekend allowed Bagnaia's Ducati teammate to move to within 59 points of Martin in third.
Gresini rider Marc Marquez, who will ride alongside Bagnaia with Ducati's factory team next season, trails his fellow Spaniard Martin by 60 points and slipped behind Bastianini into fourth in the overall standings last weekend.
Marquez had pulled himself back into the title hunt after winning the two GPs before Emilia-Romagna and the sprint in Aragon.
But he crashed in qualifying in Italy and couldn't gain any points on Martin in the standings.
MotoGP returned to Indonesia in 2022 for the first time since 1997, at a new venue on the resort island of Lombok.
Ch.Campbell--AT
