With Pecco Bagnaia now tantalizingly close to ending Ducati’s Rider’s Championship draught, many feel that Ducati will be enforcing team orders for the final two races to ensure Pecco Bagnaia is crowed the champion. His teammate Jack Miller may have the biggest role to play
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0:00 - Jack Miller Brutally Honest About Helping Pecco Bagnaia
1:41 - Fast Feed
I'm your host Dillon Shelley and first up on Moto World:
Jack Miller Brutally Honest About Helping Pecco Bagnaia
Jack Started off by looking at Pecco’s chances
“The ball’s well and truly in Pecco’s court now. He's just got to finish it out. I think he can. Momentum is a big thing and when you can get it to turn in your direction it helps a lot”
He then looked at Fabio’s chances
“When you see a rider punching the fuel tank several times throughout a session, shaking their head, you can generally see that there's something on in his mind”
He then revealed his goal for the two remaining races
“My main goal, for myself personally, is third position in the championship. It’s still achievable. Again, another long shot, but those other boys haven't been having the greatest of runs recently”
“So, I've got a good chance of pulling back some points if that continues”
He then spoke about team orders and whether he’ll obey them
“If Pecco needs help or whatever, I'm there, don't get me wrong. But at the end of the day this is an individual sport and I will try to get the best I can - and the difference between 3rd and 4th in the championship is quite a considerable amount of money!”
He signed off by explaining why finishing 3rd in the championship is very important
“That’s because the championship bonus only covers the top three places, then it goes to zero”.
“It's only [if I’m] third! Trust me, I got fourth last year, you get f*** all for it! ‘Nice one mate, good job’. Definitely, we’re pushing for that third!”
Fast Feed
Defending champion Fabio Quartararo “will approach the race by putting [himself] on the limit from the beginning of the weekend”
“I’m in a position where I don’t need to think about anything, just push myself to the limit”
Championship leader Pecco Bagnaia pointed out that “no Italian has won the MotoGP title since 2009, and Ducati hasn't won the riders' title since 2007”
“It would still be my first title in the premier class, so there is some pressure”
“I think I'll start to feel the pressure but for now I'm quite happy”
Honda’s Marc Marquez feels that “It is the first chance for Pecco and I think he has a big chance to do it here [in Malaysia]”
“I will say this is the last chance for Fabio! He needs to react and as a champion he will react, I expect. Will be nice to see how they push during the weekend”
"In Australia he took a risk. Here, he has to take a real risk if he wants to have a chance in Valencia”
Retired MotoGP legend Giacomo Agostini feels that the sport needs “a character, someone who imposes himself continuously, who conquers and makes the fans dream” [La Repubblica]
“If every year there is a different champion, people will think that anyone can lead in MotoGP”
Yamaha test rider Cal Crutchlow stated “we need Fabio to lead and go, but it is not going to be easy that's for sure”
“To even be leading the championship like he was, was already incredible”
"But he knows how to ride around here and I think he can have a good race. We just need the others not to have a good race, that’s the thing”
[All quotes taken from the media debrief in Malaysia unless otherwise mentioned]
Which championship contender will score the most points in Malaysia?
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