Ducati’s Pecco Bagnaia says he hopes “it doesn’t rain anymore” during the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix following extreme flooding at the track this week.

Heavy rainfall in Goiania left parts of the Ayrton Senna circuit submerged under water earlier this week.

Though the track proved quick to drain, the flooding prompted an intensive clean-up operation after dirt was left caked on the asphalt.

Pecco Bagnaia is keen to explore the returning Ayrton Senna circuit, which was last used in 1989 by MotoGP, but has been left concerned by the potential impact any heavy rain could have during the weekend.

“The track looks really nice,” he told Sky Italy.

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“The layout is technical, fast, and tight: I like it.

“There are a lot of corners to link: some fast corners, some corners that go way back, so overall it’s nice.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t rain anymore, because if it does, the conditions would be a bit difficult, especially before the last two corners, because it tends to flood, and on Tuesday, there was a pretty critical situation.

“I came here to the circuit, and it was tough. But in any case, we’re ready for anything, and the track is indeed nice.”

Bagnaia was full of praise for the state of the asphalt, calling it “a billiard table” with how smooth it is.

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“I think it’ll be very difficult to think about the grip on the track at first,” he added.

“We’ll see, the asphalt is definitely like a billiard table, it’s perfect.

“It’s a little dirty, but I think the grip will be quite good. The important thing will be to be able to do a lot of laps to understand what to do on the bike.”

Ducati has worked hard to understand Thailand tyre issue

Ducati’s chances of success in Brazil remain something of a mystery, as Michelin will continue with the stiffer rear tyre carcass it raced in Thailand.

That tyre caused problems for Bagnaia all weekend at Buriram, and will be the construction of one of the three rear options available in Goiania.

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The other two have the carcass used at the Red Bull Ring, which has been a happy hunting ground for Ducati in recent years.

“Ducati worked hard to understand what happened with the rear tyre wear,” he said.

“This track is new to everyone, the asphalt looks fantastic, and maybe we won’t have that problem again.”

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