Francesco Bagnaia has once again ruled out the possibility of using tactics to try and salvage a third consecutive MotoGP championship.
The two-time MotoGP champion arrives into the season finale 24 points behind championship rival Jorge Martin with 37 points up for grabs.
Speaking ahead of the weekend at the Thursday press conference, Bagnaia revealed his plans to overturn the deficit between himself and the Pramac rider.
“My mission will be to win both races, take it on Sunday and then what will happen will happen,” Bagnaia told Crash.net.
“In May we finished first and second and third was 11-seconds behind, so we showed again that we were on another level,” Bagnaia said. “But I really hope that someone else will be in the mix.
“My mission will be to win. I know Jorge can still finish I think [6th] in both races to win the title. So it will be difficult.
“But let’s see, pressure can play a role also. I will not do anything to compromise the result of anyone.”
“So I will go full send, I will enjoy and I try to win both traces and then what will happen will happen.
“I know that the level [above the others] we are both in right now is enough to guarantee the title to Jorge. Because even if he slows down a bit, it’s difficult that he will finish out of the podium.
“So this is our reality but I will not try to cause anything. What will happen will happen.”
Bagnaia acknowledges potential help from VR46 Academy stable
Despite ruling out tactics, the Italian acknowledges that both he and Martin will have allies throughout the weekend to try and swing the championship in their favour.
The factory Ducati rider identified riders who graduated from the VR46 Academy alongside him. Still, given the GP24’s dominance in the race earlier in the year, this could indicate that both championship contenders’ allies need to be faster to make an overall impact.
“I know perfectly that he will have some help by riders like Aleix Espargaro, like I think I will have by our riders from the Academy,” he said.
“So I think we are both more or less in a similar situation but he’s 24 points in advantage. So he can play it a bit more.
“The reality is that if I win the title on Sunday, it’s because I did a very good job, but also because he did a mistake on the weekend.”
Bagnaia is more relaxed heading into this year’s finale
Bagnaia compared how he felt more under the cosh in previous years to win the title due to having a championship lead, stating this time round that he can ride with more freedom, considering the pressure is on Martin.
“I feel much more free right now because I have to go full send,” he said. “Two years ago honestly, I was really scared during the race and I finished eighth and that was a result that was completely out of my potential. So it was strange.
“Last season, I just tried to keep calm, but when I was racing I was a bit more nervous absolutely.
“But you never know. You can’t escape from pressure. And also it’s difficult to live with it.
“But we are racers and we want to do the best possible.
“Jorge can enjoy a lot the weekend because he did a fantastic season. This time I think that my maximum isn’t enough, so we have to see what will happen.”
