Mental strength key for gruelling new MotoGP season, says Bagnaia

LONDON : Ducati's Francesco Bagnaia reckons MotoGP riders will need all their mental fortitude to survive a gruelling schedule this season but if there is one man who can deal with the pressure it is the Italian following his stunning triumph last year.

Bagnaia found himself 91 points behind then-champion Fabio Quartararo in June but mounted the greatest comeback seen in the sport by finishing on the podium eight times in the final 10 races to clinch the championship in Valencia in November.

The title win, Ducati's first for 15 years and Bagnaia's first ever, meant the 26-year-old was nominated for the 2023 Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award, alongside other names such as golf's Tiger Woods and NBA player Klay Thompson.

Following that success, Bagnaia is now focused on the new season starting this weekend in Portugal. The Grand Prix in Portimao will be the first of 21 with more races (10) outside Europe than ever, including newcomers India and Kazakhstan.

"The biggest change is in the mental area because physically speaking I think all the riders are prepared. But it will be very tough to remain concentrated at the top level in the season," Bagnaia told Reuters in a Zoom interview.

"In the second part of the championship it will be very tough because we don't have time to breathe, all the races are almost every week. But we're here to be the best, to be the strongest, so we have to be prepared for everything."

Every weekend now also features a Saturday sprint, 42 races in total, meaning the scope for downtime and preparation is limited.

"Normally during a race weekend I can't relax because I am normally thinking about the main race on Sunday. But it will be different because already on the Saturday you have a race, so