Pedro Acosta has voiced the commonly-held paddock perception that Ducati would favor manufacturing unit rider Francesco Bagnaia to win this yr’s MotoGP world championship over Aprilia-bound Pramac man Jorge Martin.
Acosta made the comment as he mirrored on a stunt engineered by MotoGP promoters, during which KTM’s 20-year-old rookie requested a query on the pre-weekend press convention that includes the 2 title protagonists.
His query (by way of video) tackled the opportunity of favouritism for both rider on the a part of the Italian manufacturing unit.
Acosta’s invitation to contribute the press convention query; “Will the producer affect this championship battle?” – his precise wording – was the results of his comment a couple of weeks earlier that press conferences between Pramac’s Martin and manufacturing unit rider Bagnaia lacked “spice”.
To his credit score, Acosta did earn two considerably totally different responses from the pleasant rivals, who go into the Australia weekend break up by simply 10 factors with Martin in entrance.
Adamant there could be no preferential remedy, Bagnaia mentioned: “If Ducati needed to assist me indirectly, then I might have had one thing higher than [our current package] at Misano already.
“We tried a brand new chassis, however it’s not prepared for everyone so we’re not utilizing it. It’s extra right like this.
“I feel Gigi [Dall’Igna] was all the time clear on that, ever since I began driving for Ducati and much more within the final two seasons, the manufacturing unit groups have the identical bundle.
“If I’ve one thing new, all people has one thing new. I don’t imagine we’ll change something till Valencia.”
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
Martin, alternatively, dodged taking a transparent place on the query.
“For positive I hope not!” he mentioned. “However I’ll concentrate on what I can management: driving at 100% and making an attempt to be quick.
“I perceive why individuals ask this query. In the event that they ask it, it’s as a result of they’re desirous about it! However I can’t management that so I gained’t concentrate on that. I’ll concentrate on driving.”
Acosta was underwhelmed with the outcomes of his temporary flirtation with journalism.
“I discovered the solutions a bit bland,” he instructed the working media. “However it’s regular, they’ve contracts that tie their fingers a bit, particularly Pecco.”
After a bit of equivocation, Acosta was glad to present his ideas on the matter.
“I don’t have an opinion on the topic, I’m [just voicing] widespread opinion. [But] I feel it might harm [Ducati] lots if Martin took the title to a different manufacturing unit.”
Requested in his personal press convention whether or not he thought Martin or Bagnaia was the favorite for the title, Acosta replied that his cash could be on Martin.
