Enea Bastianini: A Rising Star in MotoGP

Bastianini’s journey in the 2022 MotoGP season was filled with ups and downs, making him a prominent figure throughout the year. Despite riding for a satellite team, Gresini Ducati, he managed to secure four victories and numerous podium finishes. His exceptional performance earned him a place in the prestigious factory team for the following season.

Overcoming Adversity

Expectations were high when Bastianini joined forces with reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia in 2023. However, an unfortunate injury suffered during a sprint race in Portugal forced him to miss out on the first quarter of the campaign. Just as he was starting to find his rhythm at the works team, another fracture occurred during the Catalan GP.

It wasn’t until October’s Indonesia weekend that Bastianini could make a proper comeback after months of setbacks. During this challenging period, there were even talks of Pramac rider Jorge Martin potentially taking his place for the 2024 season following an impressive title challenge.

However, Bastianini proved his worth by securing a stellar victory in Malaysia which solidified his position on the factory Ducati team and reaffirmed his capabilities as Martin narrowly missed out on automatic promotion by losing the championship to Bagnaia.

A Promising Pre-Season Test

In preparation for the upcoming season, Bastianini returned to Sepang – where he achieved his maiden win aboard a factory Ducati – for pre-season testing. The Italian rider showcased impressive pace by finishing third on the timesheets, trailing only Bagnaia and Martin. He also displayed comparable performance to the duo during long runs.

Ducati’s top management is thrilled with Bastianini’s speed and progress. Team manager Davide Tardozzi expressed his confidence in Bastianini, stating that he has regained the form that initially earned him a place on the factory team.

Bagnaia Praises Bastianini

Francesco Bagnaia acknowledged the complexities of predicting race outcomes based solely on pre-season testing results. Nonetheless, he commended Bastianini for his consistency and highlighted his competitiveness in the scorching heat of Malaysia. With several riders showing promising performances during testing, Bagnaia believes that both Martin and Bastianini will be strong contenders in the upcoming season.

Improved Confidence

Bastianini himself feels more at ease with Ducati’s 2024-spec bike compared to last year’s GP23 model. He credits this increased comfort for improved pace during both short bursts and extended periods on track.

The talented Italian rider expressed satisfaction with his overall performance at Sepang but intends to fine-tune further during Qatar’s final pre-season test.