Things to Know about Francesco Bagnaia, the 2022 MotoGP Winner

VIVA – The racer from Ducati, Francesco Bagnaia won the first MotoGP world championship after finishing P9 in the decider race at the Valencia Grand Prix, on Sunday, November 6, 2022.

Francesco Bagnaia or known as Pecco managed to defeat Fabio Quartararo by a distance of 23 points in the closing race of this season.

“It was an amazing victory. I was feeling the weight on my shoulders to bring back this title to my team Ducati and to Italy,” Bagnaia told to reporters.

“I’m very proud of my team, of myself, of what we did because it’s incredible.” He added.

Well, here are several things to know about Francesco Bagnaia, the 2022 MotoGP Winner:

1. Francesco Bagnaia became the oldest rider to win his first MotoGP world title since the new premier class category was introduced in 2002. At the age of 25 years, Bagnaia overtook the 2002 champion, Nicky Hayden.

2. Bagnaia became the first Italian rider to win the premier class title after Valentino Rossi in 2009. MotoGP statistics record that he is the seventh rider from Italy to achieve success in the world championship with Giacomo Agostini (8 titles), Valentino Rossi (7), Umberto Masetti (2), Libero Liberati (1), Marco Lucchinelli (1) and Franco Uncini (1).

3. The title of Bagnaia for this season is the 21st premier class title for Italy and the 80th for the country in Grand Prix racing championships in general.

4. Pecco Bagnaia became the second Ducati rider to win the world title after Casey Stoner in 2007.

5. He also became the first Italian to achieve success in the premier class riding an Italian motorcycle after MotoGP legend Giacomo Agostini triumphed in 1972 with MV Agusta.

6. At the 2022 San Marino GP, Bagnaia took four consecutive wins, becoming the first Ducati rider to achieve that in any class. Since the inception of MotoGP in 2002, Bagnaia has also made his name as one of the only riders to achieve four or more consecutive wins in the premier class after Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, and Marc Marquez.

7. Bagging 10 wins in the premier class, all achieved with Ducati, Bagnaia ranks third on the list of Ducati rider wins after Casey Stoner, and Andrea Dovizioso.

8. With 19 premier class podium finishes, Bagnaia is ranked fifth in Ducati riders who harvest podiums, behind Jack Miller (21). Casey Stoner is still Ducati's most successful rider with 42 podiums.

9. Bagnaia this season has also been on the podium the most compared to other riders, namely nine times, including six wins. Only three Ducati riders have ever achieved six wins in a season: Casey Stoner (10 in 2007 and 6 in 2008) and Andrea Dovizioso (6 in 2017).

10. After the German GP, Bagnaia was sixth in the standings with a 91-point deficit to leader Fabio Quartararo. He made history with the biggest comeback since the current points system was introduced in 1993.

11. Bagnaia also became the first rider to win a premier class title with five DNFs throughout the season.