Bagnaia finds late ‘step’ after ‘not so easy’ day aboard new Ducati GP22

Francesco Bagnaia gets his 2022 MotoGP preparations off to a quiet start in Sepang after finishing only 19th. 

The Italian rider spent much of the day running outside the top ten, as was the case for team-mate Jack Miller and Pramac Ducati rider Jorge Martin. 

But with that said, day-one of testing at the Sepang International Circuit wasn’t about setting blistering lap times, instead focusing on developing the all-new Desmosedici GP22. 

"For sure, today was like all first day with a new bike, it was not so easy," added Bagnaia. "We had to see a lot of things, try different things and in the last part of the day we did a step in front. 

"I was always with used tyres, I never put the soft tyre on, I was always with the medium. With just three tyres I did 61 laps which was okay. We had to work for sure. 

"But I’m quite happy with the last two sessions of the day and we can improve on that. I’m sure that the team will work on it."

Along with testing a brand new engine and electronics, Bagnaia was also seen testing a new fairing and exhaust, all of which he said worked ‘okay’. 

Bagnaia, who is expected to be current MotoGP champion Fabio Quartararo’s biggest threat in 2022 after winning four of the last six races in 2021, says there’s no pressure and that another ‘step in front’ will come during Sunday’s action. 

Bagnaia said: "The bike is new so I tried a new fairing which was okay, I tried the new engine that was okay, but for sure we had to put together a new engine and electronics, so we are working on it and already in the last part of the day we made a step. 

"There’s no pressure, just doing laps but for sure tomorrow we will have another step in front. I also tried the new exhaust and everything is going well. 

"For sure, looking at the page of lap times I’m not so in front. It's just because I did laps with medium tyres and thinking about doing the best work possible with the new bike."