Bagnaia: I wasn’t needing to be on the limit like Aleix, I won and he was fourth
Watch Live Race and all sessions
Watch Replay Race and all sessions
2022 MotoGP Race Calendar,Race Results and Replays
2022 MotoGP Standings
The Ducati rider, who took a much-needed MotoGP victory in Assen following back-to-back DNF’s, made the perfect start before slowly building a gap. But when championship leader Fabio Quartararo made a desperate lunge at turn five, ing into Espargaro and causing the Spaniard to lose over 11 seconds, the Aprilia rider showed unrelenting pace to finish fourth after being as low down as 15th.Come the end of his stunning fightback, Espargaro crossed the finishing line with Bagnaia in view – only a 2.5 second gap separated the two riders. Is this Honda’s WORST ever season? | MotoGP 2022Video of Is this Honda's WORST ever season? | MotoGP 2022Click to subscribeNever miss a video from Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get the latest reviews, interviews and moreAfter the race Espargaro said he missed out on a ‘clear’ victory, but Bagnaia disagreed: “I don’t know. I did my race and at the start I was managing well the distance compared to him. “For sure he demonstrated a great pace but he was needing too [in order] to recover. For sure, he was more angry to recover and his pace was quite impressive. Related RIDER RATINGS: Four 10/10s, but who is the surprise inclusion? Bagnaia wins in Assen as Quartararo es into Espargaro, then es again!”I did a different race and was trying to manage the gap from behind me. I wasn’t needing to always be on the limit like him. “I’ve learned that sometimes you need to be more calm on that situation. He was for sure, able to have a great fight with me but I don’t know because I won the race and he was fourth.”Bagnaia was ‘terrified’ to in Dutch MotoGPEven with Quartararo and Espargaro out of contention, memories from ing out at Sachsenring and Le Mans, two races where Bagnaia had a guaranteed podium in his hands, left the factory Ducati rider riding with a slight edge to his game.Related Aleix Espargaro fastest in Warm-up as Aprilia show serious pace Pole position ‘almost impossible with army of Ducatis around me’- Quartararo “I was very terrified to again,” said Bagnaia. “I just tried to be smart and try not to push over the limit. Finally, we were able to do a great race. “We worked well all weekend and we were prepared for this race. The only thing we weren’t expecting was the rain and I was scared [because of it]. “I tried to manage but Bezzecchi behind me was recovering two/three tenths by lap so it wasn’t easy to bounce back. “4Aleix Espargaro: Victory ‘was clear’, Quartararo ‘not a dirty rider’ RIDER RATINGS: Four 10/10s, but who is the surprise inclusion? Yamaha: Fabio Quartararo’s penalty ‘harsh, not consistent’”I was scared to because of the past. My objective was to finish the race. After two zeros like I did, it was very important to arrive at the finish line. “I was pushing a lot at the start to make a gap to Aleix [Espargaro] and Fabio [Quartararo] and when they made contact I said ‘okay, I can be more calm’ but [still] pushing. I tried different things. “But the problem was that Marco [Bezzecchi] was closing the gap. I tried to push again and I was seeing that my pace was enough to control it.2″5
For motorsport news follow TRmotosports on social media.
