Bagnaia says he wanted to make people talk about him after Ducati comments

Francesco Bagnaia has said he was worried about travelling to Qatar but chose to trust MotoGP, IRTA and the organisers, who he feels have worked to ensure rider safety and provided most of what the riders asked for. He said the atmosphere in the paddock was as he expected.

Bagnaia also addressed comments he made at Sepang, where he said his Ducati no longer had the quality that helped him at Motegi last year. Ducati team manager Tardozzi said he did not know what his rider meant. Bagnaia said he had deliberately sought attention after feeling he could not draw media focus through results.

He said Losail could be one of his last realistic chances with Ducati, adding that he likes the layout and expects the surface to suit him better than Sepang's, and that a top-six finish is his aim.