The reigning champion was an encouraging second-fastest on the opening day of the Motegi weekend, only 0.029 seconds shy of pacesetter Brad Binder on the KTM.
Both Binder and Bagnaia, as well as third-placed Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro, eclipsed the eight-year-old Motegi lap record that was set by Jorge Lorenzo in FP2.
Having arrived in Japan off the back of a crash in last weekend’s Indian GP that has left him only 13 points clear in the title race, Bagnaia said he and Ducati were working on a solution to the braking woes that have plagued him since his last win in Austria.
The Italian rider said after Friday practice that he feels he has the Desmosedici working the way he wants again after a run of difficult races.
“I feel back on the braking,” said Bagnaia. “I can force a lot of the braking and I can take a deep breath on that because I was struggling too much on the last two race weekends, so finally I am happy for that.
“Still I am missing something to be completely happy, but it’s a huge step forward.
“On the first attempt [at a fast lap] I was doing it in a safer way, then the second one, I just pushed like I do normally and I finally felt again that I was very strong on the braking, sliding in the correct way. This is a true relief for me.”
Source: Autosport