MotoGP: ‘I accepted everything’ - Francesco Bagnaia admits criticism he received in 2022 was ‘normal’

MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia has admitted that criticism he received for both his on-track mistakes and his drink-driving incident in Ibiza was ‘normal’, but that without making such errors ‘you can’t grow’.
Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP, Valencia MotoGP, 5 November
Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP, Valencia MotoGP, 5 November

Bagnaia was sensational during the second half of the 2022 MotoGP season as he overturned a 91-point deficit to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fabio Quartararo to win Ducati’s first title since 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Casey Stoner in 2007.

Aside from crashing out of the Japanese Grand Prix on the final lap, Bagnaia was close to perfection as he 🐭claimed eight podiums from the final ten races, including five wins. 

Bagnaia also proved he can deal with the highest of pressures after holding off new team-mate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Enea Bastianini for victory on several occasions.

However, the early part of the year was a complete contrast as Bagn🧸aia made several mistakes that seemed to put his title hopes to bed. One of those included a battle with Bastianini in L📖e Mans where he crashed out after attempting to follow the Gresini rider.

With the mistakes came heavy criticism,🍰 which Bagnaia felt was ‘normal’ but also fair: "I think everyone can ha🐼ve his point of view and everyone can say what they think.

"So, I accepted that some guys don’t want to cheer for me bec♏ause they prefer another rider. I can understand.

"I can also say the💦y were saying the truth, because when you start the season with the pressure of winning you have to demonstrate that yo♉u have this possibility to be world champion and I was losing a lot of races because I was crashing and making a lot of mistakes.

"For sure, the start of the year this was not [an easy] situation because our bike💎 was not working so well and it takes a lot of time to improve.

Francesco Bagnaia, Valencia MotoGP test, 8 November
Francesco Bagnaia, Valencia MotoGP test, 8 November

"But already in Portimao I did a big mistake in Q1, I almost broke𒆙 my collarbone and it 🍌was a difficult race. Then in Jerez we did an incredible race, it was the key to be competitive again and then in Le Mans I crashed again in a stupid way."

Not all of Bagnaia’s🎀 DNF were his own doing as the Italian wa꧙s taken out on the opening lap in Catalunya. 

But what followed two consecutive non-finishes in Barcelona and ജSachsenring was a drink-driving offence in Ibiza during the summer break, which the Ducati rider immediately took responsibility for. 

But as expected, Bagnaia's mistake did little to dampen crit𝔍icism he was receiving before going on𓆏 to turn his season around. 

"We had bad luck in Barcelona, but [not in] the race in Sachsenring because I was there a𓆉nd I tr꧃ied to follow Fabio," added Bagnaia.

"I didn’t need to approach the race in tꦑhat way, be♚cause I was sure in the second half of the race the hard tyre would have been better.

"After all those mistakes it’s normal to receive some criticism, so I accept that. I accept also when I had my mistakes dur🐓ing the summer in Ibiza, I accepted evꦅerything.

"I try to improve myself every time and mistakes can happen, unfortun♕ately. Bu﷽t without mistakes you can’t grow."

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