Bagnaia crew chief on Martin: “Easy to be in official team dressed as satellite”

Factory Ducati rider and reigning champion Bagnaia has a 27-point advantage above Pramac’s Martin heading into this weekend’s Thailand MotoGP.

Martin, who led the standings for 24 hours in Indonesia, arguably was the biggest victim of the cancelled sprint race at Phillip Island considering he is the most in-form rider vying for the title.

Christian Gabarrini, Bagnaia’s crew chief, told Gazzetta dello Sport: “It's easy to stay in an official team dressed as a satellite team and have all the benefits of the internal team without any downsides. 

“Whatever happens, Martin will have done well. But Pramac is an official team.”

The two factory Ducati riders and the Pramac duo all ride latest-spec machines, while the VR46 and Gresini pairs have year-old bikes.

No satellite rider has won the premier class championship since 2001 when Valentino Rossi succeeded for Honda.

Gabarrini, who has also won MotoGP titles with Casey Stoner as well as working alongside Jorge Lorenzo, is pitted against Martin’s crew chief Daniele Romagnoli.

“Daniele and I go on car trips with lots of chatting about music and other things, we get along very well,” Gabarrini said. 

“The challenge is among the riders, we technicians try to do our best. The best one will win.”

What is Martin’s weakness as the title battle intensifies?

“I don't know and if I did I would prefer not to say,” Gabarrini said. 

“Seeing his data would be incorrect, a bit malicious.”

The MotoGP season has four rounds still to go, beginning in Indonesia this weekend.

“Whoever is more calm, serene and concentrated, will prevail,” Gabarrini warned.