Image copyright: Getty Images
2023 MotoGP World Championship
2023 Malaysian Grand Prix
Sepang International Circuit
Sepang, Malaysia
Sunday, 12 November 2023
Ducati Lenovo Team's Francesco Bagnaia will look to keep the momentum going in the antepenultimate race of the MotoGP season at the
Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, November 12.
The defending World Champion leads the Riders' standings by 13 points ahead of Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin after winning six of the 17 races in 2023.
Bagnaia has finished on the podium 12 times and put himself in a strong position to defend his title after winning the Indonesian Grand Prix and claiming P2 in the Japanese Grand Prix, the Australian Grand Prix and the Thailand Grand Prix.
Alamy Stock Photo
The Italian just missed out on his seventh victory of the campaign when he finished 0.253 seconds behind Martin in Buriram last time out as the Spaniard made slight inroads on the gap to top spot.
Bagnaia is seeking his third triumph in Sepang, having won the race in 2016 and 2022. He claims the pressure to retain his crown isn't as big as in 2022, which saw Ducati end a 15-year wait for a title.
"Fighting for a championship for a third year in a row means we are doing a really good job," the 26-year-old said. "I don't think it will be a failure, in case we lose it.
Image copyright: Getty Images
"It will be great to win because I don't remember many names who have won the title two years in a row. This would be fabulous for me.
"In terms of pressure, last year was higher after 15 years without a title for Ducati. It was more intense and I was feeling the weight on my shoulders.
"This year is different. I feel a lot of pressure, the same, but in a more motivational way. Being the reference is something we need to be proud of."
2023 Thailand Grand Prix results:
Winner: Jorge Martin - Prima Pramac Racing
Second Place: Francesco Bagnaia - Ducati Lenovo Team
Third Place: Brad Binder - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
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