MotoGP: Pecco Bagnaia Blames Bike for Troubled Race at COTA

Despite his best efforts, Pecco Bagnaia lost to teammate Enea Bastianini on the COTA circuit. Despite making a valiant attempt, Bagnaia could only secure 8th place in the sprint race, while Bastianini soared to a podium finish, claiming 3rd place in the main event. At 27 years old, Bagnaia crossed the finish line in 5th position, trailing the winner, Maverick Vinales, by 7.4 seconds, who was piloting an Aprilia. Presently, Bagnaia occupies 5th place in the standings, lagging behind the leader, Jorge Martin of Pramac, by a 30-point margin.

Bastianini strategically chose a soft rear tyre, which proved crucial during the Circuit of the Americas race. This calculated decision propelled him to secure third place on the 18th lap. Anticipating the tyre's durability, Bastianini effectively tested it during the warm-up session on Sunday. However, facing a recurring tyre vibration issue that had plagued him in previous races, notably Qatar and Portugal, he had to settle for maintaining his position and salvaging as many points as possible in Austin.

Francesco Bagnaia said: "I was feeling good in the first six laps and was battling with the front group, but then I started to experience some issues. The bike was moving a lot at the front and I was feeling some vibrations at the rear, so I had to ride defensively. It was hard, but we need to stay calm, understand the situation and try to finish every race in the best possible position. When the right time comes, we will attack."

MotoGP: Chamionship Standings

As the third Grand Prix of the season draws to a close, Bastianini finds himself in second place in the championship standings. The gap between Bastianini and Jorge Martin is just 21 points. Meanwhile, Bagnaia sits in fifth place, nine points adrift of his teammate. With 96 points, the Ducati Lenovo Team has taken the top spot in the team rankings, while Ducati leads the manufacturers' standings with 109 points. It must be said, however, that Ducati's performance during the recent US round fell short of expectations compared to their previous outings. Despite coming back from the 11th position on the grid, Vinales staged a remarkable comeback, securing a sensational victory. Tech3's Acosta claimed second place, nudging Ducati down to third position among the competing manufacturers.

Looking ahead, the next MotoGP Grand Prix is set to take place at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto in two weeks' time, scheduled for April 26-28.