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Much has been made of the ace in the hole provided to Francesco Bagnaia in having seven other Ducatis on the MotoGP grid, and how far the Bologna brand will go in pressing that particular advantage to ensure its first riders’ title since 2007.
Though Bagnaia himself has been at pains to make it clear publicly that he has not asked for team orders and thinks he can get the job done without them, he has also admitted it’s something Ducati may feel is needed – while the Ducati higher-ups have certainly left the door open to it, particularly for the final races of the season at Sepang and Valencia.
And he has already received preferential treatment, with VR46 Ducati’s team manager Pablo Nieto acknowledging the team would look to help Bagnaia if it could and Zarco, in not attacking him for third in Thailand, lifting the lid on a Ducati policy of allowing riders to fight for wins but wanting them to be extra mindful of Bagnaia’s title push otherwise.
But amid all that, there’s also been another factor – one with a less immediately obvious impact but not an impact to be completely dismissed – in Bagnaia’s handy close relationship with some of the stars of the sport.
The obvious name here is Jack Miller, Bagnaia’s team-mate, who has had his back both on- and off-track, perhaps even to the detriment – if not a massive one – of his own title hopes.
Miller made a point of interjecting and defending Bagnaia when the latter was being grilled about his drink driving incident in the off-season, and – in what may have well had an actual on-track impact – was there to lift his team-mate’s spirits up ahead of a Thailand race that may go down as the pivotal moment of this title contest.
What did he tell Bagnaia? “Nothing major, just to believe in himself,” Miller told MotoGP’s After the Flag show.
“At the end of the day he’s one of the best riders in the world, I’ve definitely seen him ride in the wet very fast.
“I saw him a little bit apprehensive when the rain clouds came around. Just sticking it into him a little bit, I think it helped.”
He then also added: “As long as we can bring it [the title] to Bologna, it’d be nice.”
But that’s a current rider, and it would be unfair to speculate that Quartararo’s squadmates don’t have his back – certainly, tester Cal Crutchlow has been very complimentary in the media and his words of support after the Buriram disaster were probably appreciated.
But the star power Bagnaia can lean on goes beyond the current grid. And coming to Phillip Island he is able to consult with two riders that combined for a total of 12 wins at the Australia venue.
A member of the VR46 Academy, Bagnaia is clearly in constant contact with legendary mentor Valentino Rossi, who he already credited with helping him to an unlikely-seeming Silverstone win this year.
But he’s also been getting advice from Ducati’s only MotoGP riders’ champion so far Casey Stoner, and walked the track with Stoner on Thursday at Phillip Island – where the Aussie won five times in six MotoGP appearances.
“Also today I spoke a bit with Casey. For sure it’s very important to try to take an advantage from him,” said Bagnaia in the Phillip Island press conference.
“For sure it’s the best way possible to learn something from him in this track. I will try to understand everything.”
Could Quartararo avail himself with feedback from Yamaha’s counterpart to what Stoner is for Ducati? Considering that’s probably Rossi, that wouldn’t exactly be the simplest thing to arrange.
But it’s not as if it’s something Quartararo desperately wants.
“I have my dad,” Quartararo joked when asked by The Race about his equivalent to Bagnaia’s support network.
“No, actually, I don’t need- at the end, everybody can tell you something. But the one who is on the bike is yourself.
“At the end I don’t really need. Of course, if someone tells you one thing, it can be a help, but at the moment I feel that with my team and the people around me it’s enough.”
