Francesco Bagnaia is gearing up for a fierce challenge against MotoGP championship leader Jorge Martin at this weekend's Indonesia Grand Prix, as he seeks to reduce Martin's 24-point advantage in the standings. The defending champion is determined to replicate his success at the Mandalika International Circuit, where he secured victory last year, putting him in a strong position against his Pramac Racing rival in the title race. However, the dynamics have shifted this season, with Martin now leading after Bagnaia's recent crash at Emilia-Romagna.
Bagnaia acknowledged the importance of an aggressive approach in the remaining races of the season, indicating that he plans to push hard in Indonesia before possibly reevaluating his strategy. He stated, "I will approach like always, pushing, trying to be competitive and trying to win races. I am now 24 points behind, so they are not a lot, but they are also not a few." His focus will be on securing victories to close the gap, emphasizing the need to remain competitive.
Meanwhile, Martin is looking to move past the Emilia-Romagna race, where he lost the lead to Enea Bastianini on the final lap. Martin noted that increased pressure can complicate his performance and stressed the importance of maintaining focus on his riding rather than overthinking his strategy. "The more pressure I have, the more difficult things become. I try to be more focused on riding, on my feelings," he explained, acknowledging the risk of making mistakes if he becomes overly concerned about the championship implications.
Bastianini's recent success at Misano Adriatico, marking his second GP win this season and seventh career victory, has positioned him closer to Martin in the standings, now trailing by 59 points. Marc Marquez, set to join Bagnaia on the Ducati factory team next season, is also in the mix, currently 60 points behind Martin after slipping to fourth place following a disappointing performance in Emilia-Romagna. Despite a promising comeback in the previous races, Marquez's crash during qualifying in Italy hindered his chances to gain ground in the title race, setting the stage for an exciting competition in Indonesia.
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