Pecco Bagnaia used his Qatar appearance to clarify the cryptic reference he had made at Sepang. With an ironic tone, he acknowledged that he had looked for another way to keep the media interested in him after good results stopped providing that attention. In his view, the tactic worked: the remark continued to fuel discussion.

The Ducati rider also addressed his concerns before travelling to Qatar. He said he had chosen to place complete trust in Dorna, the organisers, the staff and the government, believing that they were working to protect everyone involved. The paddock, he said, felt like a normal race weekend. His main practical concern was the possibility of people being left stranded in the country if the airport were closed.

A difficult Ducati ending

On the conclusion of his Ducati partnership, Bagnaia admitted that he had wanted a better finale. He also separated the closing phase from the value of the relationship as a whole. Together, he said, they took the motorcycle to the front of the grid and won two world championships—achievements that cannot be erased by the results at the end. He acknowledged, however, that when performance does not arrive, preserving harmony becomes more difficult.

Qatar remains a significant reference point for the Italian rider. It was where he claimed his first MotoGP pole position, in 2021, and he sees similarities with Brno in the way the circuit is ridden and in its grip. Bagnaia regards Qatar as one of Ducati’s best tracks over the years and believes that effective work could deliver a stronger result than at the previous Grand Prix.

Discussing Marc Marquez, Bagnaia credited his rival with a major comeback and with understanding the limits created by changing conditions. He also attributed the loss of many points to the Aprilia riders. As Bagnaia put it, holding a 44-point advantage with three races remaining gives a rider considerably more room to manage the situation.