The reigning world champion slid out of the Americas Grand Prix two weeks in the past whereas main, marking the fourth time he has carried out this since 2020.

Crashing twice in three grands prix in 2023, Bagnaia in Austin blamed his falls on the brand new Ducati being too steady, which meant it was tougher to really feel the entrance finish.

On the eve of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, Bagnaia considerably backtracked on these feedback, noting that he has to “be smarter” in race conditions.

Nonetheless, he rejected ideas that he’s extra prone to crashes whereas main due to the added strain.

“What number of races did I win whereas I used to be main?,” he started.

“So, I believe this query doesn’t have an accurate reply. My regular win is I lead and I push to regulate the hole.

“That is my solution to win. Perhaps I’ve to begin engaged on a special solution to win. Perhaps it was higher to let Alex [Rins] move [me in Austin] and see what occurred.

“However my sort of win is that one [to lead from the start], I all the time received from Moto2 like this, I by no means had a scarcity of focus, by no means had a scarcity of efficiency.

“So, I used to be by no means feeling the strain to push an excessive amount of. I used to be simply contemplating that the tempo was sturdy, nevertheless it was doable to stay on it and it’s roughly the identical state of affairs. I don’t suppose it’s a matter of crashing as a result of I’m main.”

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Staff

Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photographs

Requested about altering his strategy after analysing the info from his Austin crash, Bagnaia added: “We’re eager about it. Now we have tried to work on one thing that we don’t have, like within the race, as a result of I crashed.

“I discovered that the potential of our bike needs to be the identical, it has to stay as is. It’s extra I’ve to be taught the state of affairs, as a result of after I [I crashed] I spoke with my staff, I spoke additionally at residence with my individuals, and sincerely it’s tougher going two tenths slower by your self than going two tenths slower due to your bike.

“However, it’s higher [the former] proper now as a result of if I perceive the state of affairs like I did in Portimao, or within the [Austin] dash race, you could have a bonus.

“So, it’s higher to comply with like this and attempt to be smarter in some conditions.”

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Having surrendered 45 factors in two grands prix, Bagnaia trails VR46 Ducati’s Marco Bezzecchi by 11 factors within the championship coming to this weekend’s occasion at Jerez.