Enea Bastianini Explains Reasons Behind Botched Test Weekend
Categories: MotoGP
After a messed up test weekend at Portimao, Enea Bastianini explains why he hardly got any testing done, especially on Saturday.
Finishing sixth on the timesheets and 0.405sec behind teammate Pecco Bagnaia, last year’s third-placed Enea Bastianini cannot be satisfied. The Italian was set back several times during the test weekend.
While the team had planned to get used to the situation on Saturday, a technical fault on both of Bastianini’s bikes and a crash by the 25-year-old put a spanner in Ducati’s works.
Bastianini completed a total of 27 laps on Saturday. His team-mate had completed 77 laps in comparison. The Italian, new to the Ducati factory team, confirmed:
“Saturday was a bit unfortunate, we had two small problems and lost time. I spent an hour and a half in the pits. I made a mistake, the team made a mistake – and it wasn’t a really good day.”
The Italian was able to make up the team on Sunday for the messed-up first day of testing, which he finished in 17th place. However, there wasn’t really time left for a substantial time attack.
“We made a good step forward very early on. We also made some changes to the bike, my feeling was better then. I was able to push, whereas on Saturday I was already at the limit very early on.”
"Not far away"
At the current point, Bastianini sees himself behind his teammate Bagnaia and admits to “still having some work to do”.
“I only rode one ‘time attack’ – not at Pecco’s level, but it wasn’t bad either. I think we are still missing something to fight for the win, but we are not far away either.”
After all, the Italian planned to get used to his new GP23 in Portimao. He says the Desmosedici has morphed its strength compared to last year.
“The difference to last year’s bike is not so big, but the strengths are different. I just tried to understand the 2023 bike.”
