But to do so means once again not only fending off rid✨ers from rival factories, b𓆏ut seven other Desmosedicis.

Never in MotoGP history has the💫 ‘best bike’ been available to so many riders on the same grid. It dilutes the advantages of being in the factory team but is a source of extra motivation and credit for Bagnaia.

Bagnaia currently leads the standings by just three points from Pramac’s Jorge Martin (on an identical GP23) with Marco Bezzecchi third in the standi🅠ngs for VR46 (on a GP22).

“It's true that my bike is the best, but it's also true that another seven riders have more or less the same bike; three [exactly] the same and the other four similar,”🙈 said Bagnaia, speaking at a Monster event before the flyaways.

“They all have more or less the same possibility to win as me and our bikes, the new one or the old one, have the same top speed. For sure the new one is new, but it also takes time, eveღry weekend, to [set up] to be better on Sunday.

“But y𓄧es, for me, being one of eight riders with more or less the same bike gives me m▨ore motivation, but also more credit with what we are doing.

“I'm always going ‘all in’ because the feeling of the victory is someth🌼ingꩲ that I need.”

Toughest 2023 rivals? 'Martin, Bezzecchi… and Brad Binder'

Whi♛le Bagnaia, Martin and Bezzecchi continue to trade blows in the title c🌌hase, the reigning champion also highlighted another tough adversary from the 2023 season: KTM’s Brad Binder, fourth in the standings.

“For sure, Marco and Jorge are very competitive. They are really great talents. Like Brad Binder,” Bagnaia said. “Binder is the most aggressive, the more tough to beat 𓆏for me when you are battling with him.

“But I know perfectly the strength that Marco has in terms of the fight. And I know the precision of Jorge, so it's very difficult. They ꦇhave three great riding styles. They are all so competitive.”

Bagnaia: I’ve been watching MotoGP races from 2005

A true fan of the sport, Bagnaia revealed he had been spending some of his down time between races wa♎tching past MotoG♓P seasons on TV.

“I wanted to refresh my memories and [recently] I've been looking at the races in 2005. And it's a wonderful moment, for sure, for MotoGP,” said 🌳Bagnaia.

2005 saw Bagnaia’s mentor Valentino Rossi defend his debut Yamaha title with 💙ease, winning 11 races compared to just two victories for closest rival Marꦫco Melandri (Honda), also on Michelin tyres.

Ducati f𒊎inished sixth in the standings with Loris Capirossi (2 wins, on Bridgestone).

“If you look at the races, the first three or four riders had a gap of 5 secon𝄹ds♍ and the guys behind were 30-35-40 seconds, completely different to now!” said Bagnaia.

“Now, from first to last in a race is 20 seconds. It'sౠ so different cღompared to the past.

“ꦦThe bikes now ♉all have more or less the same level and the tyres are all the same, because before we had the different tyre [brands].

“So it's more different and I love that it's like this but it’♉s moved the limit forwar🦄d for sure.”

'Max Verstappen is unbeatable!'

Earlier in the season, former title rival Fab♏io Quartararo likened Bagnaia’s run of victories to F1 champion Max Verstappen, a comparison Bagnaia🌼 brushes off.

“Max is still making more the difference compare🌠d to me, because he has a team-mate with 𝐆the same car - I have seven with my bike and sometimes they can beat me - but Max is unbeatable!”