P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Bagnaia says 2023 MotoGP title battle “hardest” of his racing career
“The current world champion is heading into the final round of the 2023 season with a 21-point lead over his rival Jorge Martin, who struggled in the Qatar Grand Prix due to a tyre issue. If Bagnaia outscores Martin by at least four points in the sprint race on Saturday in Valencia, he can secure the 2023 title. This situation mirrors the one he faced last year when battling Fabio Quartararo for the championship, where Bagnaia held a 23-point lead. However, he admits that the challenge he faces now is tougher, particularly against a strong rider like Martin who has the same bike and can share data. Despite this, Bagnaia believes they are managing the situation well and plans to approach the weekend like any other race, focusing on doing the best race possible and not allowing pressure to affect him. The only concern he has at the moment is the weather because, on 26 November in Valencia, anything can happen. Overall, Bagnaia acknowledges that they are in a favorable position with a 21-point lead and feels confident in their ability to manage the pressure by maintaining the same strategy and routine as a normal weekend.”
