Francesco Bagnaia was so close to the MotoGP championship trophy that he could have seen his own reflection in the solid silver plaques bearing the names of the riders he hopes to emulate at this weekend’s Valencia Grand Prix.
He had been placed alongside the glittering prize in a photo shoot with title rival Fabio Quartararo, who he leads in the standings by an almost unassailable 23 points.
But despite being closer to the trophy than he’s ever been before, he refused to touch it.
Watch every practice, qualifying and race of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship live and ad-break free during racing on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“I’m Italian — so superstitious!” he admitted.
His title dreams are achingly close to reality. The trophy was literally within touching distance. But the space between his hand and the so-called champions tower is full of risk.
“Still there is a possibility [of defeat],” he said, admitting he felt no more relaxed than he did last round in Malaysia, where he had his first chance to seal the deal.
ON THE CUSP OF HISTORY: How Bagnaia can emulate an Aussie icon with Ducati title glory
AGAINST ALL ODDS: What it will take for ‘crazy man’ Quartararo to rescue title defence from unthinkable
Whereas in Sepang he needed a variety of conditions to go his way to win the title, this weekend he needs to score just two points to guarantee glory, such is his advantage over Quartararo.
“It’s true that we’re in a better place compared to Fabio, but we have to finish the job, so maximum concentration. I’ll try to be focused on the weekend like always and try to finish with the maximum possible.
“For sure it will be very important to be intelligent to be smart this weekend.”
Bagnaia has adjusted gradually into title contention this year after starting with a 91-point handicap halfway through the season.
At first he was determined not to show signs that the he was feeling the heat of the title battle, but his own behaviour would betray him. At one moment he’d say he was impervious to the weight of history he way carrying for Ducati and for Italy, but at the next he’d easily rattle off the significance his triumph would have for team and country.
Clearly it was rolling around somewhere in his head.
Speaking ahead of the most important grand prix of his life this weekend, he was more open about dealing with pressure to succeed, even admitting that his couple of crashes last time out in Sepang were triggered by the championship equation.
“On Thursday even in Sepang I [didn’t feel] too much pressure,” he said, per GPOne. “But then it came, even if I said not. I crashed twice; it means it was there.
“We’ll see how I wake up tomorrow, but right now I’m quite peaceful and calm.
But he said the best way to combat the pressure was to treat Valencia like any other race.
“In Malaysia the race was the easiest thing from a mental point of view because I was focused on winning, I wasn’t thinking about the championship,” he said.
“I know I’m the favourite, I can afford a 14th place, even if I don’t have to think about this possibility.
“I have to concentrate to do 100 per cent, try to win or get on the podium.
“Sincerely I’m [keeping my feet on the ground].
“Still I have three more days to do before having the possibility to become the champion. But I don’t want to think too much on it … in this moment I’m just focused on the main objective.”
But he has a secret weapon with him too.
Bagnaia is the highest profile recruit of the VR46 riding academy set up by seven-time premier-class champion Valentino Rossi.
Rossi still carries the burden of letting an eight-point title lead slip in the final round of the 2006 championship. The Italian crashed early in the race, paving the way for Nicky Hayden to claim his unlikely sole championship.
It’s exactly the sort of scenario Bagnaia must avoid lest Quartararo be gifted an opportunity to overturn the deficit.
Bagnaia would be the first Rossi-backed champion if he were to succeed, and Rossi himself will be on site in his young charge’s corner to give him the benefit of his experience — and to try to prevent history repeating itself.
“For sure it’s a great thing and it can be a great help to have Vale with us,” Bagnaia said. “He knows very well this situation; he knows very well how I feel in this moment.
“For sure he will be on track, he will help me like a real coach. I think that will be a great help for me.”
Whether it’ll be enough to make a difference will only be clear on Sunday afternoon.
