MOTOGP champion Francesco Bagnaia is going in search of his second victory of the year in this weekend’s Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas.
The Italian came from 91 points behind to pip Fabio Quartararo last season and looks “even stronger” this season according to former Superbike world champion Neil Hodgson.
Bagnaia won the MotoGP season-opener in Portugal and sits in second-place in the championship behind Marco Bezzecchi, who won in Argentina.
But BT Sport pundit Hodgson says now he has one championship under his belt, he will be confident about adding a second.
He said: “The hardest thing is to win your first. A lot of people said the hardest thing is to defend the championship but I totally disagree.
“The hardest thing is to get that first one over the line. And for him, it was against all the odds.
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“He broke so many records coming from that far back. He was 91 points down at one point, it was bizarre. Nobody thought it was possible.
“He had the pressure of all of Ducati on his shoulders, the first Italian champion since Valentino Rossi, and he kept calm at that last round. He did what he had to do to win the title.
“Now, look at what he’s done preseason, he’s been incredible. He was clearly the fastest man and looks really prepared.
“I think he’s found the final piece of the jigsaw. Has he got the bottle to fight for a world title? And the answer is yes. Now coming into this season, he will only be stronger.”
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The race also offers another opportunity to see the shorter sprint races, rather like F1 have tried, plus a good opportunity to gauge MotoGP’s popularity in the US.
Hodgson added: “The sprint race format creates a lot of drama because they are all-action.
“You can’t save your tyres, there will be no boring tactics, it will be all out in the sprint race.
“You’ll have to be aggressive. You’ll have to qualify well, so I think we’re in for a right treat!
BT Sport will show all the live action from every race weekend during the 2023
MIAMI VICE
MIAMI GP bosses have done away with their fake harbour and created a new “Sunset Cabana” package.
That’s by featuring real water for the boats to sit on.
The VIP area can accommodate 15 people and costs a whopping $67,000.
WILL I NEVER
THE Williams F1 team are being pursued by a former title-sponsor for £119 million in damages.
Rokit claim they were sold on assurances from Williams that they had produced a competitive car for the 2019 season.
The company says their brand was damaged due to the car’s poor performance as they finished last in the championship.
The case has been lodged at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Williams have already had success in the UK courts in their legal battle with Rokit. At the end of last year, they were awarded a payout of more than £26 million after Rokit defaulted on their sponsorship payments.
HELLO MOTO
F1 and MotoGP bosses have discussed the mouthwatering prospect of a joint race weekend.
The premier classes of car and motorcycle racing have always been kept separate, but Dorna CEO Carmen Ezpeleta, who runs MotoGP, has held discussions with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
Sadly, there is no room for the joint weekend until at least 2027 due to MotoGP’s existing contracts with circuits but it could be on the cards, and it would be incredible.
KING CHARLES
POOR Charles Leclerc is not having much luck on track at the moment.
And now the Ferrari man is getting pestered at his home in Monaco.
His address has been leaked on the internet and fans have been congregating outside and ringing his doorbell at all hours of the night asking for selfies.
He’s now taken to social media to ask them to “please respect my privacy and refrain from coming to my house”.
TOP GUN
TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU will take part in a private test at Jerez, riding Yamaha’s MotoGP bike.
The 2021 World Superbike Champion has been linked with a switch to MotoGP.
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And he will get another opportunity to prove he can make the step-up.
It’s Razgatlioglu’s second chance to test the M1, however his first opportunity last year was cut short due to poor weather conditions.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
