#yay pecco!

[verdemint]

sooooo this is the translation for the icon interview with Pecco and a bit of Enea + (my little notes) (for @vr46ridersacademyofficial and whoever wants to read about pecco being a neurotic bestie and a "true rock" nerd)

Genius and moderation: Francesco Bagnaia’s winning qualities. He’s the champion who says about himself that he’s shy (and that already sounds like an oxymoron); then you see him race, and you ask yourself if he hadn't been just joking…

To win a MotoGP world championship, the highest class of motorcycle racing, you need a lot of talent, to win two of them, and one after the other even, you need to be extraordinary.

The third centaur who was able to do something like that is Francesco Pecco Bagnia (don't pretend you don't know who I'm talking about!). The third after Valentino Rossi, his idol and mentor, and Marc Marquez, his next year teammate in Ducati. And, because the hunger comes while eating (lol that's prob just an Italian idiom and it means that when you start to eat you start to get more hungry too, so winning is making him more hungry for more victories), Pecco is trying to do the same this year with the new Desmosedici GP24.

“Motivation is not something I’ll ever be lacking” says Pecco wearing the new glasses carrera Ducati (lol)

When I asked him to draw an imaginary identikit about himself to start our interview he replied: “I’m shy, very determined and an hard worker”. You can feel all of his Savoy (i guess coz he’s from the Savoy region but idk its more of a stereotype for people in the north of italy, being serious and quiet) essence - a mix of being a very private person, and also respectful and polite - that’s his own signature “ethics/moral code" and style. “It’s difficult for me to clash or argue with someone. If I’m angry or annoyed or nervous I keep that inside of me.” That's true in the paddock and outside.

Who better than him is the opposite of the cliche “to be a pilot you must be crazy”?

“Being lucid is the most important thing in this type of sport. The instinct can make you go fast, and maybe there’s a bit of madness, but during the race, everything you do has to be calculated, and every decision is considered and thoroughly thought through. Nothing is left to chance. And seeing red on track/not being lucid is what makes you do mistakes.”

Most people would think you have to live a life full of sacrifices to become a champion, but Francesco lives that life differently. “Everything I’ve ever done, I’ve done it cause I wanted to, I’ve never missed out on anything, not really. I’ve chosen to go train on track instead of going out with my friends most of the time, but it’s because I truly believe you’ll always have time to do all the other things you want to do.”

Respected by everyone in the paddock, Pecco is also praised by Enea Bastianini, his colleague and teammate, also born in 1997 but nearly 12 months after Francesco. 

“He has the type of determination and awareness that when he decides to do something he’ll go and get it. On a more technical side, his braking is super effective with the types of tyres we’re using.”

Their relationship is really good and Pecco says “Enea is one of my many rivals. The only ally I have on track is myself: I motivate and help myself”- he displays a strong sense of duty and responsibility- “cause I’m also the most self-critical person in the world.”

And maybe it is this moderation (I guess she’s talking about the self-criticism bit) that becomes a strength for the natural-born rider Pecco.

Francesco Bagnaia is cast in the same mold as another Italian sports prodigy ( shes trying to say the have similar vibes lol) Jannik Sinner, and not coincidentally Pecco is also a big fan of Jannik (he also carries Juventus in his heart, and he received a personalized jersey in December from the club).

“(Sinner) appears as a very “clean” person, it makes you want to support him. I’ve always loved tennis and thanks to him I’ve become an even bigger fan. I play tennis especially during the winter, I take classes three times a week”

Francesco always brings the same things to all of his races and most between the all: “Socks just under the calf, however it has nothing to do with superstition” and also music.

“I listen to music as soon as I wake up. I love old rock, the true rock. Favourite rock group? Led Zeppelin, of course, and I also really like Greta van Fleet.”

Around the circuits, his sister Carola, assistant and media manager, follows him like a shadow.

“I would like Domizia with me at races more often, her presence is a necessity for me.” Pecco and Domiziaa are gonna be married in a handful of hours (July 20) after seven years of engagement: “Organizing the wedding was easy: there is no comparison with the World Championship. Maybe Domizia thinks differently about it.”

What does Francesco Bagnaia see in his future? “A successful career and a large family. And still riding a prototype bike: if not until I’m 37, the goal is at least 35.”

[djangari]

I have to deal with this and all I get is a headache and a silver medal

~ 1616 words

“Third place? Hmm, do you remember who finished third in 2018?”, Marc jokes to the reporter and laughs as she answers that she doesn’t. “Me neither! So that's it.”

Pecco freezes, while the reporter joins in, and the video eventually restarts. He won’t like that. Hopefully, he will never see this or at least when he is not present- “What are you watching?”

A familiar figure leans over his shoulder and slowly he turns his head to look at his mentor, who suddenly appeared behind him. Whose smug grin got wiped out of his face, as he watches the video. How stupid he was to assume the other would need longer to join him in the trailer, of course he will visit him first to see how he handles the championship fight stress.

Vale laughs too. However, it's more of a pressed, dry, forced sound that is coming out of his mouth. So different from Marquez cheerful, honest sounding laugh.  In this moment, Pecco doesn’t dare to mirror it. Instead, he observes Valentinos mimic, how his eyebrows are pulled together, the wrinkles around his mouth disappeared, his eyes don’t agree with the act he is trying to play.

He taps on the screen, pauses the loop. Silence spreads in the room, while Pecco is waiting for Vale to do something. To speak, to react.

A few seconds go by and Vale hums. “He isn’t wrong. Do you remember who was third in 2008?” Pecco knows that the factually correct answer would be Pedrosa, but in this situation he would never speak it out loud. He rather shakes his head.

“See? Nothing to speak about. Let’s get Bez and eat pasta or something. We need to calm your nerves before your great weekend.” Vale straightens up again, already turning towards the door. “Come on, come on, I’ll pay.” Impatient as always, he already left the room before Pecco could protest.

Pecco quickly gets up from the couch and follows the older man. From behind he can still see the tension in his otherwise relaxed and flowing movements, can see the firm grip he has on his phone.

________

Later, when they finally found Bez and Vale nearly dragged him with them, they are half finished with their meals as Vales phone, which lies next to him on the table, screen clearly visible to everyone nearby, buzzes and lights up with a pop up notice. Vale unlocks it easily with the hand that isn’t holding the fork loaded with pasta and clicks on the message. Another video starts playing, just as Vale puts the fork into his mouth, and Marc’s voice is audible.

“The third place doesn’t matter at all!’

Vale instantly chokes on the noodles and begins coughing. Pecco exchanges a look with Bez and leans over to his left to slap Vale on the back so their mentor maybe would not die because of a meal when he has lived through over twenty years of riding a death machine for fun. Bez reaches him a glass of water, although he mirrors Pecco’s expression of desperation and can absolutely relate to being fed up with his behavior.

Who can blame him? The two of them should be cheering him up, motivating him and giving him the extra power to win. Now he is robbing him of his nerves instead of helping him to concentrate.

 “Who remembers who finished third in 2022 or 2015? I finished third, but no one remembers.”

And it gets worse again… Why did he have to mention 2015 again? Sometimes it seems like he is doing this on purpose- wait no he does. Sadly Pecco, besides to Luca of course, is the one who is mostly present to see Vale‘s reaction. Not Marc. Maybe he would stop if he sees the impact he has on the old man.

… Who is he trying to fool. He would do it even more. Pecco has been around for too long to still denial the painful obvious existence of their weird exhibition kink.

With a small sigh, Pecco reaches over the table and again pauses the video, pauses the sound of Marc’s laughter. Slowly Vale recovers and is able to breathe like a normal human being again. “Nothing to worry about!”, is the first thing he gets out of his mouth.

 Sure. Pecco suppresses the urge to bang his head on the table until he falls into a coma. This would look weird, especially in public. Rumors spread fast in this paddock. The press he would have to face, the mocking he would have to endure from his engineers, it ruins the whole experience. They would eat him alive if he did that, even more if he did it on this particular weekend. So, all he does is to roll his eyes and beg some higher power that this moment would soon be over.

The door falls shut and the whole cafeteria goes silent for a second. Pecco throws a small look over his shoulder, only to freeze in fear.

Anyhow someone heard him up there and decided he needed to feel even more miserable. Loosing the title apparently isn‘t enough. Please, please, please, let him at least not-

„You‘re okay?“ No. No. No. Keep your head up, keep your head up.

„Ah. Of course, of course!“ Suddenly, the relaxed Vale is back again. He can hear the chair scraping on the floor as he leans back. „No need to worry about a guy like me.“ Ok, this has gone surprisingly well- „If you couldn‘t kill me, pasta will never make it.“

Pecco‘s head falls towards the table. God damn it.

A kick against his shin saves him. He tries to kick back, but Bez already caught his glare. With another deep breath, he turns around to face the situation like an adult.

„Ciao“, he greets his future teammate, who is standing on the right side behind his chair. Never in the existence of the universe would he ask how the fuck he got into the cafeteria of the VR46 team, so instead he stays silent and waits for Marc to speak again.

The Spaniard looks relatively comfortable in this situation, or so it seems for outstanders.  For them his bright smile blends them enough to not see the signs. Only if you get close enough you can see the tension in his shoulders, the way he holds his head high up and the inconspicuous foot tapping. Yet something… something in his eyes displays the same kind of hunger he often sees in Vales eyes after an especially good race. His smile just looks a little bit too sharp and too pleased.

„I wanted to come over and wish you luck for the weekend. You will need it.“, he says sweetish and blatantly ignores the indignant glare Vale shoots him. Pecco swallows what lies on his tongue and tries to put on a similar act. „Thanks. Good luck to you too, Enea won‘t give up that third place easily.“ Marc just laughs. „Don‘t know if you already heard it, I don‘t really care about that. Next week we will try out the bike together and that is what matters in the end.“ Pecco hears the threat that lies in those words, fights for his small smile to stay on his face. „Ah right, I am also curious how they have improved the machine for next year.“

He couldn’t have said clearer ˋThis bike was build for me and you need to look how you get along with her.´ A small twitch in his smile indicates Marc understood. „Ah I trust the engineers, I‘m sure it will be a great bike.“  They just stare at each other, playing the act of a friendly talk between soon to be coworkers. It's like time froze.

Someone somewhere in the cafeteria laughs loudly and the tension breaks. “Well, I should go and find Nadia, we need to meet up with Gigi.” Shortly he bowes down to mutter something over Valentinos shoulder, who flinces at the slight touch. “You wouldn’t dare to die before I get my ninth, would you?”

Pecco sees Bez's mouth falling open and how Valentino stiffens up. Marc also notices that and his smile gets even sharper. Lightly his fingertips run over the edges of Vale‘s collarbone, centimeters away from the soft skin of his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, Pecco observes the way Vale now holds the fork, knuckles bright red, fearing he will do something drastic. The question is, would he be able to stop him? Thankfully Marc leaves Vales personal space before something like that could happen.

With a tap on Pecco's shoulder, Marc signals his exit and turns around to walk away. None of them wants to torture themselves so they surely won’t stare after him, watching how he nearly hops out of the cafeteria. Instead, they stare at the table, everyone trying to recover in their own way. Bez continues eating, hoping to forget everything what he just witnessed. Vale damages the cutlery and mumbles some curses under his breath. Pecco, finally, gives in and slowly bangs his head against the table before resting it on the cold surface. Why can’t this weekend just end?

______

Sunday night, when Marc's speech is almost over, Pecco feels his phone vibrating. Quickly, he checks his messages and sees a new one from Bez.

ˋWe need to replace the tv downstairs. He threw a bottle against it and now he doesn’t talk ´

Pecco grabs Domi‘s hand and tries to relax. Someone has to remember him that he needs a soundproof room next year for the case Vale decides to visit Ducati.

[bezzplaining]

.🫂

[ray935sworld]

Pecco really is Vale's daughter that decided to break the generational cycle

[batsplat]

bat splat thank youuu for saying the pecco jorge rivalry is just for pecco as opposed to having the specter of Vale hanging over it. I want to ask tho, I have been seeing people say the only reason pecco wins the race is because he copies jorge's setup throughout friday/saturday/Sprint. Wanted your opinion on this because I have also heard that Pecco gives decent engineering input and builds his race slowly over the weekend. Was just confused about how much data sharing can actually help, and how much does it help with the ducati specifically!! Have a nice day, love your posts

have a good day too, anon!! and I will gladly spread the pecco narrative independence agenda!! it's something I really do like about the rivalry - expanded a bit in the comments under this, but it's neat to have something that really is Just Pecco's. from inception it's very much his own rivalry, his own narrative... idk, this sport is too reliant on valentino to provide any kind of narrative tension, and it's just sort of refreshing to see this multi-year narrative play out that has fuck all to do with that guy. enough

on the set-up copying, obviously that is bullshit. I mean, to be clear, I'm sure pecco absolutely copies the set-ups of other ducati riders, but that's very much a mutual process - it's something that benefits all the ducati riders, and they've all openly spoken about this. it's very helpful to be able to see the data from seven other riders!! that's a big part of why ducati has been so bloody good!! the main difference is that jorge tends to be faster from the start of the weekend, whereas pecco tends to take time to reach his level. which I suppose makes some people draw the conclusion that pecco is only fast once he's copied someone's set-up. again, this isn't the case - it is just a difference in approaches. points come... well, unfortunately, not just on sunday anymore, but they certainly do not come on a friday. pecco knows this, which is also why sometimes he's not even trying to top an fp1 session - this year there have been quite a few instances of jorge but not pecco throwing on a fresh set of tyres towards the end of fp1 and setting a particularly impressive lap time. there's also nothing wrong with THAT approach, jorge is playing to his strengths, but at a certain point we're just talking different run plans

(there is also a very obvious logical fallacy with this line of reasoning. if you are copying someone's set-up, then by definition you have the same set-up as them. and if you beat someone with the same set-up, then it stands to reason that you were riding better than them. sure, you can argue the success is less earned because your team... idk, just lazed around all weekend, but at the end of the day surely you still cannot be a bad rider if you are getting more out of another rider's set-up than they themselves are able to manage)

and yeah, pecco is known for giving good feedback! just being a good learner in general. here, actually, a little throwback from start of 2019 where pecco's crew chief gabarrini (who also ofc has worked with casey, lorenzo and briefly with marc) compared pecco and marc:

"A driver - all of them do this - starts at a certain level and ends the day at a higher level. What makes the difference is starting again where you were. Few have this quality: it often happens that a driver sets good times - without knowing why, without being aware of how he got there. The 'good' ones, on the other hand, have this characteristic: they achieve a result and know why they did it," explained the chief technician. Gabarrini even goes so far as to compare the MotoGP rookie with the current world champion: "I saw this quality in Márquez: I was with him when he made his debut in the MotoGP World Championship. His ability to not forget what he had learned impressed me. Once he had understood an aspect of the riding style, the set-up or any other thing to be faster, he had it in him forever. Pecco also has this quality." "In Valencia we started with a base similar to the one Lorenzo used: on paper it suited Bagnaia, based on what you could understand when you saw him riding a Moto2 bike. From then on, the normal changes to the set-up were made so that he could ride the bike as he liked. In the meantime, Pecco has worked enormously to adapt his style to the Ducati."

and there you have it - pecco's good at progressively getting better at stuff, including over the course of the weekend. as for the set-up copying thing, partly it's just typical competitive paranoia (even though it feels like the fans are currently doing it more than the riders). back in the day, valentino and jorge used to have the world's dumbest arguments about this every other week. led to one of my all time fave messy jb moments:

god I miss that guy so badly. they don't do ride-or-die like that anymore

the point is that both sides were engaging in pretty silly mudslinging, just kind of for the vibes of it. valentino/jb trying to get under jorge's skin and jorge a bit more earnestly aggrieved. as ever, if you want to read more about how that particular era of jorge/valentino unfolded, see here. this is just to say, this kind of faffing about is a tale as old as time and it's always a bit silly... you had jorge say that it was impossible for them anyway to copy each other's data in the very same answer as he accused valentino of copying his set-up. like, I'm sorry, I am not going to take this seriously. a lot of sports is about having dumb arguments

and yeah, again, pecco does gradually build up his level over the weekend. more of a valentino than a casey, it's fair to say. and that'll hurt him in the sprint format - which I talked about a bit recently while going through casey's latest interview about how sprints are satan's providence:

so yeah, casey thinks that if anything there isn't enough time to work on set-up, and mat oxley thinks it's rubbish to say pecco relies on sprint data to be better on sunday. (as I said in that post, I do find it fun if unsurprising that casey is so virulently anti-sprints, because you'd think a lot of aspects of the format - including less time for everyone for working on set-ups - really would have suited him. keeping it real.) so on the whole... y'know. maybe he just gets better over the course of the weekend. it's been known to happen. there's actually some pretty significant ways in which the current version of the sport isn't all that pecco-friendly, from the shitty michelin front tyre we're keeping for another year to the sprint format we appear to be stuck with. it's just that he also happens to be on the best bike - and the fact that he's winning a lot but simultaneously isn't highly rated by fans makes people want to believe that the current series is 100% ideal for him

a lot of fans are loathe to admit pecco might actually be a good rider so they'll find basically everything to justify that prior. including getting into increasingly conspiratorial territory. but my actual take is this - if pecco has been gaming the system so expertly that he is somehow the only guy able to take full advantage of everyone else's data, so shrewd and cunning that he can spread magic dust on his bike so that he suddenly leaps ahead of jorge, such a dastardly operator that he can steal the set-up that poor jorge perfected on friday morning to fix his bike five minutes before the sunday race, then... good. I support it. I hope he's cheating. the more unearned the success is, the better in my books. long live corporate espionage and foul play

[vr46ridersacademyofficial]

i’m so anti podcast though lol esp when filmed. i experience a physical aversion to just the image of a man sat with headphones and a microphone in front of them like actually men should be neither seen or heard. 🙅🏻‍♀️

something about being on podcasts makes vale goes full conspiracy theorist flat earther mode it’s so embarrassing lmfao. entertaining though

[fall0utmind]

hello! here to yap about your fic which sounds excellent™ 10/10 concept

who reaches out first? does valentino realise How Bad it truly was and feel bad for not getting in touch sooner? or something else? 👀

Hi,

Yay, im so glad you think so!!

Okay so in my head (I haven't gotten to this bit yet) Vale 100% thinks this is all a set up, marc trying to get media sympathy etc (absolutely delusion stuff, you know how it is). Anyways, it's like pecco, who's with marc at the press conference when it all goes to shit. So, pecco is like, um, I dont think this is fake. Marc is in PIECES trying to get through the race weekend (in ITALY, no less).

Throughout the weekend, more and more stuff comes out (Marc's mental state after 2015, the extent of his arm injury, including his very dodgy relationship with the pain meds, etc) and Vale's theory is falling apart before his eyes. Eventually he realises he's a fucking idiot and tried to talk to Marc. Cue miscommunication, Marc thinks vale is going to rub it in, call him pathetic etc and just runs away... vale is like wait what, stewing in guilt that he made Marc feel like this.

So eventually he manages to get through to Marc, corners him because the guilt is eating him alive and he wants so bad to remain aloof, but he's just found out the love of his life almost died, like multiple times, and it could have been Vales fault? So yeah Vale corners Marc and although Marc is super distrusting at the start, vale is grovelling, doing everything he cam to make things better. Taking nicely ro rhe media, texting Marc, telling the academy to be nice to him, speaking up about his own mental health.

Very slowly (he was really hurt before, he has thick defenses now), Marc comes around and realises vale isn't trying to hurt him 🧡

And they live happily ever after ✨️✨️

[moonshynecybin]

Re: your great tags on the pecco not immune to heretical idolatry post (https://www.tumblr.com/moonshynecybin/767713696275431424/pecco-notably-and-interestingly-not-immune-to) I AM spending a lot of time thinking about Pecco’s concept of Marc (also in a non-yaoi way lmao) but specifically I think you’re onto something with “he (pecco) relates to him”!! I can articulate nothing, but I like that.

Also the Casey Stoner of it all IS funny.

scream i must confess that the "relates to him" comment was more about pecco relating to fellow overthinking/somewhat self loathing legend casey stoner... perhaps a more directly relatable figure for an introverted lil guy like pecco than most insane and charismatic man alive valentino rossi, even if pecco does still idolize him and take a lot of his cues from him... like it think its interesting that the second casey shows up at the ranch pecco pulls the trigger on a casey tribute ducati livery. like YAY he got implicit PERMISSION !

[verdemint]

Anyway, pecco and casey actually have more things in common than people want to believe! Their reaction and feelings towards the media are both pretty similar, they hate to be misunderstood and they’re scared of the power of the media, still they react sometimes in opposite way to their instinctual hate for the media. Also the media/fans response to them is both very similar and the opposite at the same time! Pecco being considered a bike merchant and casey a lil prodigy fighting against the horrible bikes, but at the same time people find them both cocky and weak-minded idk this is mostly a rant about how im always shocked at how much hate all the ducati posts comparing pecco and casey get, and I guess the comparison is not the best BUT their relationship with medias and fans is actually pretty similar.

Anyway i find them both fascinating yay

[vettelsbitch]

Happy and excited kidfic anon here with an idea yay

Maybe they meet again and Cele is looking for excuses to get away and Bez goes dead serious like "no, shut the fuck up, it's not embarassing, but we need to talk about our nipple piercings and the fact that I like yours" or something

Now, hold your horses for a bit, Bez is absolutely not making the first move in any of this. He is very aware of his feelings for Cele, and soon enough he's aware that Cele probably likes him too, but he is not taking any step towards a relationship first. He simply is very aware of what having Teo means, and Cele is younger than him and he doesn't want to (what he believes) "lead him on" because he has responsibilities Cele doesn't need as a 20 yo, and he also knows he feels very deep for Cele (specially after seeing him with Teo) and he is scared of opening up too soon and Cele moving on and leaving him and Teo behind.

He still would be a menace because he is Bezz after all and he loves Cele's attention, so he would run shirtless and make sure they meet Cele on the stairs when Marco comes back from school and if some days he ends with leftovers and he casually drops them off for Cele, then that's a happy little coincidence.

And ofc we'd have Luca and Pecco, even Vale, asking Marco about his cute boyfriend and trying to make him realize that he can go for it, that he deserves having someone that adores Teo as much as he does.

And after Cele takes the first step there would absolutely be a lot of talk about nipple piercings *wink*

[bezzplaining]

So yeah half of this titles are for maneskin songs/random spanish words

Thanks to @formulapookie </3 for the tag(even if dont work at all lololol)

rules: make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! and then tag as many people as you have WIPs

**half of this things are pure smut with no plot but theres angst too :D **

Do I Wanna Know?(aleix/jorge/fabio quartararo - idontknowhowtonamethisweirdthreesome)

Sick Love(fabio quartararo/aleix)

Mocking Bird(marcmarc + kinda rosquez)

AITA for sleep with my boss ex-something?(marcmarc - yeah i think this is the most original title)

Indecencia(diggiannini - inspired by a slut diggia pic)

Obsesión(franky/migno - tehehe 🤙)

Baby Said(aleix alpha/various riders)

Narcisista por excelencia(rosquez - other song title yay!)

Rude(rosquez)

Supermodel(pecco/luca)

Please dont(bezznaia)

All for my ex(rosquez/other couples)

Am not original with the titles but if you wanna know about my delulus you can ask(maaany dont have titles so here are some of them). I dont know much writers here...if you want to do this it would be so cool 👾

[anitalianfrie]

Found so much more crisp packet Pecco yay!

[batsplat]

pecco has the taste! his test livery was a casey reference! https://www.tumblr.com/muxas-world/767679864728879104/so-the-white-livery-was-in-honor-of-casey-now-i

(tumblr and instagram links)

it's soooo sweet.... right up my alley..... did just make me smile - that was actually what the livery immediately reminded me of so I was wondering if it was a deliberate reference. so I was very :)) to see him confirm as much

wish pecco hadn't been stuck in a cave during the ranch visit, like of all the times for that to happen!! he should've been there... just been an unambiguously strong month for casey + vr46 stonks hasn't it - casey glazing pecco in that interview, casey ranch visit, pecco paying tribute to probably casey's favourite livery... and to think, in only a few short months we'll get another fun interview where casey explores new ways of calling valentino a cunt

anyhow. yeah. I do love how unerring pecco has been in being both a valentino and casey fan over the years, from when he was a kid to when he was getting advice from BOTH valentino and casey to his first title to now. he's so me-coded. and he really is their daughter... that's my neurotic + cerebral ducati champ sunday kid right there

[inhidingxoxo3637]

Aragon my beloved 🤌

[joanmirs]

Yay pecco p2 FORZA LUIGI MAMMA MIAAAAAA

[thesmallguys]