Pecco Bagnaia converted his sixth pole position of 2021 into his third win, and in some style, before a red flag called the Portimao race early.

The Ducati Lenovo rider was running two and a half seconds clear of Suzuki’s Joan Mir when the red flag came out two laps from the end, his victory sealing the Constructors Championship for the Borgo Panigale factory.

“I’m very happy because I think is my best weekend in MotoGP,” Bagnaia enthused after the podium celebrations. “I enjoyed every single session this weekend because when you feel so great with your bike, everything coming more easily to you.

“I’m very happy with the work done compared to April, that I finished second. I was feeling that I was more competitive this time so I’m very happy. This race was, maybe at the start more difficult because with the front I was struggling a bit more compared to other races. So at the start I was trying to push but every time I was leaning on the left I was feeling that the front was closing, but then everything was coming better and better every lap and I’m very happy to have won this race. Also, I’m very happy that we have won the Constructors Championship, so is a great thing.”

Despite ending his title challenge with a turn 15 crash at his home race last time out, Bagnaia remains positive about the future and the efforts put in throughout 2021 by both himself, his teammate Jack Miller and the entire Ducati Lenovo outfit.

“I think that we didn’t lose the championship in Misano,” the Italian explained. “Because I lost a lot of points before and I started to be so competitive after some races. So for sure is a really great base for next year, we have worked so hard and so well with our bike so for next year, we have a really great base.

“From arriving in the factory team I feel a different feeling with the bike. The atmosphere in the box is very nice and is something that I really appreciate. Also I think this winter, I worked a lot with my trainer in every session of the gym and also on track in Misano and we did a big step in front. It takes more time to be competitive like this but just maybe because I’m like this. Now I think we did the best job to be competitive and the base for next year is there.

“I think that we had one more year to concentrate on more or less the same bike and for me was better because I understand how to ride it better without any changes. For sure, compare my bike of last year I had many changes on it but from the start of the season, I feel great. I started working with it, and I think is for Jack the same, we worked a lot and now with the same bike more or less, we are doing different things. Because we are more strong on the braking, we are more strong on turning, so I think we did a really great job for this year. Is also better for the engineer that have to develop next bike. So we did an enormous job this year I think.”