Ducati’s 2020 MotoGP challenger has come up Milhouse for Pecco Bagania as it is strong in the areas he was weak last year.

Bagnaia, who promised so much in 2019 after being monstrously fast at the Sepang test, managed to finish this year’s Malaysian pre-season in in fourth and only 0.153s behind Fabio Quartararo but lacked a little in a race simulation where he didn’t crack the 2’00 barrier.

“The new bike I prefer because Ducati has improved the points where I was losing time last year. So, in the braking I am stronger than last year, as last year I was losing a lot of time in the braking, so this is a good point,” said Bagnaia, speaking at the Sepang test.

“Another thing that I like is that this bike is turning more and that is something Ducati has been reaching for a lot of times. I am happy to ride this bike and find a good setting and a good base for the next test.

I think that in making one lap we are all very fast riders so that is normal for the time attack that everything can go fast but the point where you have to learn more and to work more is the pace.

“I have to learn more and to be faster on the pace. My race simulation has been good but we have to be faster in a race simulation.

“I think with the motivation of a race I can be faster but if the qualifying had been here I would start fourth and the race was tomorrow I would be looking to get a top 10 objective that I think we could reach and be very close to the other Ducatis so we are happy about that.”