Maverick Vinales Praises KTM Debut After Barcelona MotoGP Test
Maverick Vinales shares his first impressions of the KTM RC16 after the Barcelona test. He's delighted by the speed, handling, and fit for his riding style.
After ten years, MotoGP rider Enea Bastianini and manager Carlo Pernat have parted ways. The Italian will switch to F1 manging agency MSM.
Seven-time MotoGP race winner Enea Bastianini has split with long-time manager Carlo Pernat and has joined London-based agency MSM.
The managing team led by Enrico Zanarini has an expansive portfolio of motorsport talent on its books, like former F1 drivers Jean Alesi, Daniil Kvyat, Jacques Villeneuve and Antonio Giovinazzi.
The firm also represents former MotoGP and World Superbike ace Max Biaggi, as well as F1 Academy driver Hamda Al Qubaisi and her sister Amna.
The MSM statement on Bastianini’s switch reads: “Dear friends of MSM, we are pleased to inform you that Enea Bastianini, the sensation of MotoGP, has entered into a strategic partnership with MSM and entrusts the management of his career to CEO Enrico Zanarini, a recognised authority in motorsport.”
Throughout his career, Bastianini was managed by now 76-year-old Pernat, who engineered his move to Fausto Gresini’s Moto3 team, which accelerated the Italian’s career, seeing him finish runner-up in the 2016 season and lay the foundation for a move up into Moto2 where he soon found a new home in the ItalTrans team.
Bastianini’s stint in the smaller Grand Prix classes ended when the Italian took the Moto2 World Championship crown. An important step for Pernat.
Having his second big name under contract – Andrea Iannone – just kicked out of the paddock following his doping scandal, Pernat’s new superstar quickly gained traction in the premier class, taking seven MotoGP race wins for Gresini Racing and the factory Ducati team.
Pernat also played a big role in Bastianini’s latest move to the Tech3 team. After the 2024 Italian Grand Prix, when it was finally clear Bastianini would lose his seat at Ducati Corse, the 76-year-old quickly initiated the switch to the French team.
Maverick Vinales shares his first impressions of the KTM RC16 after the Barcelona test. He's delighted by the speed, handling, and fit for his riding style.
Despite this extensive ten-year tenure of working together, the two will noe go their separate ways. Pernat has stated that it was a mutual decision between himself and Bastianini to part ways ahead of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship.
The Italian will continue to help Bastianini from behind the scenes but will not have as much authority as before.
“I was in hospital between October and November 2024, it was a problem with emphysema. If I caught severe bronchitis, I could die from it. I immediately discussed this with Enea.”
“As an agent in this sport, I have always worked by attending every race, that’s how I’ve always done it. It’s not possible to do this from home.
“Enea also needs a trusted person at his side. We talked about it for a few months and in the end, he made his decision.”
“Everything we did together has not been forgotten. We started from Moto3, he won a title in Moto2 and we achieved the dream of getting in the Ducati factory team.
KTM confirms its commitment to racing for 2025, despite revealed plans to withdraw from MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3.
“In [Ducati] red he was very unlucky, having lost a year due to injury. The KTM issue weighs a bit, but for us it was the most logical choice at that time.
“But then it turned out not to be the best. The same thing also happened to Pedrosa and Vinales.”