But to do so means once again not only fending off riders from rival factories, b𝓀ut seven other Desmosedicis.

Never in MotoGP history has the ‘best bike’ been available to so many riders on the same gr꧂id. It dilutes the advantages of being in the factory team but is a source of extra motivation and credit for Bagna🐈ia.

Bagnaia currently leads the standings by just three point🔯s꧟ from Pramac’s Jorge Martin (on an identical GP23) with Marco Bezzecchi third in the standings for VR46 (on a GP22).

“It's true that my bike is the best, but it's also true that another seven riders have more or less the same bike; three [exactly] the same and the other four similar,” said Bagnaiaꦿ, speaking at a Monster event before the flyaways.

“They all have more or less the same possibility to win as me and our bikes, the new one or the old one, have the same top speed. For sure the new 𝓡one is new,♎ but it also takes time, every weekend, to [set up] to be better on Sunday.

“But yes, for me, ♛being one of eight riders with more or less the same bike gives me more motivation, but also more credit with what we are doing.

“I'm always g꧂oing ‘all in’ because the feeling of the victory is soꦓmething that I need.”

Toughest 2023 rivals? 'Martin, Bezzecchi… and Brad Binder'

While Bagnaia, Martin and♉ Bezzecchi continue to trade blows in the title chase, the reigning champion also highlighted another tough adversary from the 2023 season: KTM’s Brad Binder, fourth in the standings.

“For sure, Marco and Jorge are very competitive. They are really great ༺talents. Like Brad Binder,” Bagnaia said. “Binder is the most aggressive, the more tough to beat for me when you are battling with him.

“But I know perfectly the strength that Marco has in terms of the fight. And I know the precision of Jorge, so it's very difficul💮t. They have three great riding styles. They are all so competitive.”

Bagnaia: I’ve been watching MotoGP races from 2005

A true fan of the sport, Bagnaia rཧevealed he had been spending some of his down time between races watching past MotoGP seasons on TV.

“I wanted to refresh 💞my memories and [recently] I've been looking at the races in 2005❀. And it's a wonderful moment, for sure, for MotoGP,” said Bagnaia.

2005 saw Bagnaia’s mentor Valentino Rossi defend his debut Yamaha title with ease, winning 11 𒁏races compared to just two victories for closest rival Marco Melandri (Honda), also on Michelin tyres.

Ducati finished sixth in the standings with Lo🔴ris Capirossi (2 wins, ไon Bridgestone).

“If you look at the races, the first three ♋or four riders had a ga🦂p of 5 seconds and the guys behind were 30-35-40 seconds, completely different to now!” said Bagnaia.

“Now, from first to last in a race is 20 seco﷽nds. It's so different compared to the past.

“The bikes now all have more or less the same level and the tyres are all thཧe same, because before we had the different tyre [brands].

“So it's more different and I love that it's like this but it’s moved the lim🐼it forward for sure🐟.”

'Max Verstappen is unbeatable!'

Earlier in the season, former title rival Fa﷽bio Quartararo likened Bagnaia’s run of victories to F1 champion Max Verstappen, a comp🀅arison Bagnaia brushes off.

“Max is still making more the difference compared to me, because he has a team-mate with the s♋ame car - I have seven with my biꦦke and sometimes they can beat me - but Max is unbeatable!”