Francesco Bagnaia: “Now it's back to serious business!”

After beating the likes of Andrea Iannone and future team-mate Marc Marquez for victory in the Lenovo Race of Champions at World Ducati Week, Francesco Bagnaia turns his attention back to the ‘serious business’ of the 2024 MotoGP title chase.

The reigning double-world champion starts the second half of the season with a ten-point lead over Jorge Martin, having regained the initiative with a fourth Grand Prix victory in a row just before the summer break at Sachsenring.

“Our vacation ended earlier than the other riders,” said Bagnaia, who also got married during the break.

“Last week, we were in Misano for the World Ducati Week, and we were able to challenge ourselves with the new Panigale V4 S. It was a nice opportunity to get reacquainted with the track, but especially to meet all our fans from all over the world.

“After the Lenovo Race of Champions, now it's back to serious business!

“During this break, I also rested, and now I am ready to face this second part of the season, which will surely be very intense and challenging. I can't wait for Friday to pick up where we left off.”

Bagnaia finished a close second in last year’s British Grand Prix after being passed by Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro on the final lap.

Team-mate Enea Bastianini was an early faller last season but returns having closed to within 11 points of third-in-the-standings Marc Marquez, the rider who will take his factory seat for 2025.

“These three weeks of break were needed, but now I really want to get back on track to start this second part of the season,” said Bastianini, who is moving to Tech3 KTM next season.

“In the first nine races of this Championship, we have managed to grow steadily. The next few weeks will be very intense, but we will also race on tracks where I usually do well. Now, however, we must focus on Silverstone.

“We will give it our all as always, and I can't wait to take to the track with the special fairing for the 75th Anniversary of the Championship.”

The special liveries, to be used by all teams and riders on Sunday, will be unveiled on Thursday.