P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Bagnaia “f****d up” by not considering fuel load in Portugal MotoGP sprint error
In Saturday’s 12-lap sprint race, Bagnaia held a strong lead but made a crucial mistake by outbraking himself into Turn 1 on lap nine, falling to fourth place and finishing there. This happened because he didn’t adjust his braking distance to account for the decreasing fuel load affecting his GP24’s braking capabilities. Despite the error, Bagnaia acknowledged the need to focus on the positives, such as his ability to compete in the sprint race with a rear tire that wasn’t ideal for him. The rear of the GP24 was more sensitive on braking compared to the previous year’s bike, but Bagnaia didn’t react appropriately to this difference. Furthermore, his factory Ducati team had a challenging day, with poleman Bastianini finishing sixth due to a technical issue, while Pramac’s Martin struggled with rear vibrations and tire problems throughout the race. Martin expressed disappointment, feeling that he could have battled for the victory if not for the rear tire issues, and plans to improve his performance in the next race using a more reliable medium tire.
