'A mistake I cannot do' - Francesco Bagnaia rues Indian Grand Prix crash as MotoGP championship lead is cut again

Francesco Bagnaia admitted his crash at the Indian Grand Prix was “completely my mistake” and was something he “cannot do” as his championship lead was trimmed again.

Reigning MotoGP champion Bagnaia had a 66-point lead at the top of the standings earlier this month.

But that advantage has been cut to 13 points after Bagnaia failed to finish in Delhi.

The 26-year-old passed main title rival Jorge Martin, only to crash out a few corners later.

Martin finished second with Marco Bezzecchi taking the win to keep his title hopes alive.

“I was pushing,” Bagnaia is quoted as saying by Autosport.

“We accepted the risk to race with the harder [tyre]. We don't know why but honestly all the other Ducatis were accepting the medium front more, and I was not. I had some trouble with the medium and was having a lot of locking.

“I was having a lot of problems on the braking. Till that moment it was good. I was feeling better than on the medium, on the limit, absolutely on the limit, and when you are too on the limit it's something that can happen.

“But it was the only possibility to fight against them. Bezzecchi today was unbeatable, but we were there with Jorge and as soon as I overtook him I didn't increase my pace. It was the same.

“But as soon as the rear came back from the slide it pushed the front and I lost it. It's something that can happen.

“I'm not happy because I think this doesn't have to happen to me, because I'm fighting for a championship. It's a mistake that right now I cannot do.”

He added: "It didn't have to happen, it's completely my mistake. I already said sorry to my team because today it was better to understand that and be in third position."

Bagnaia also said that he feels braking has become Ducati’s “weak point”.

“I also think that we don't have to be in the same situation like this weekend and like Misano, because our strongest point was always the braking,” he explained.

“Right now, it's our weak point because I can't stop the bike, my rear is shaking a lot and we are not honestly understanding why. So yesterday we had a meeting and today it was impossible to solve the problems, obviously, but for Japan, for sure, we will understand it better.

“My feeling is that my team will solve it. I'm not worried because my team has my 100 per cent support on that, and I know perfectly that we will find a solution, and our strongest point will be the brake again.

“It will not be easy. Jorge has this momentum but today he finished eight seconds after Bezzecchi. So Bezzecchi today and also yesterday was too strong for him, but for us in general.

“I want to be back in my position. We finished Austria leading the races in an incredible way. In Barcelona we were fighting against Aprilia and the second Ducati was far behind. As soon as we arrive to Misano, something different happened, my home Grand Prix, and I was feeling not well like always.

“So absolutely my team have my 100% support and we will solve the problem.”

With seven rounds remaining, it looks like a three-way battle for the title.

Bezzecchi, who is 44 points behind Bagnaia, says it is a “great honour” to be challenging.

“I’m not thinking about the championship still, because it’s very long. But to be closer anyway, I would lie if I told you I don’t like it,” he said.

“Because to be able to fight with Pecco, Jorge, also Brad [Binder] is close, they are amazing riders. So for me it’s an honour.

“But today I just want to enjoy the day. It hasn’t been an easy week. I lost a friend some days ago so I just want to dedicate this to him and his family and then go to Japan, which is a track I really like."

The Japanese Grand Prix is on October 1, live on TNT Sports.

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