It's back to MotoGP this weekend in an Australian Grand Prix which promises to be tense to say the least, at all levels and other levels. The Gresini team is well aware of this and is planning not only for Phillip Island but also for Sepang which will follow the following weekend. On the one hand, we are preparing to face the cold and humidity while on the other hand, it is the heat, but also the tropical rain that will be feared. Precisely, between Gresini and Ducati, we are blowing hot and cold on icy relations regarding the riders' world title which should be tilted in favor of Pecco Bagnaia by listening to instructions, while Enea Bastianini is mathematically still in the running to win the bet…
Enea Bastianini, with four victories this season, the last of which in Aragon snatched from Pecco Bagnaia the official Ducati, is also interested in a final podium which would ensure him an exceptional bonus promised by the brand with which he is under contract… But without giving the impression for the moment of being under his orders… At Gresini, we also have our own economic interests that podiums and victories embellish. And we have already shown ourselves many times less accommodating than on the side of Pramac.
So yes, this Australian Grand Prix, like that of Malaysia then, are so many leaps into the unknown… For bastianini, Phillip Island is not a priori his cup of tea. He has never finished higher than fifth, and that was in 2017 when he was still in the Moto3 class. Sepang suits him better. bastianini has already been on the podium twice in Malaysia, each time in Moto3, with third place in 2017 and 2018. The talented Italian driver can also count on a truly impressive pre-season test at the start of February 2022. He then dominated the timesheets (1'58.131secs) while giving encouraging clues on the following…
Enea Bastianini does not change strategy for Australia: “ sixth place in Buriram in pouring rain kept our motivations intact »
« We are coming out of a complicated race, but nevertheless positive » comments the fourth in the championship, 39 points behind the leader fabio quartararo. “ Sixth place in Buriram in pouring rain kept our motivations intact. There are three crucial races coming up and the back-to-back rounds in Australia and Malaysia are sure to be interesting ". Then he specifies: “ It will be my first time at Phillip Island with a MotoGP so it will be a discovery, while we know we can be fast at Sepang. The February tests really gave us positive indications ».
On his teammate's side Fabio DiGiannantonio, we add: “ the Thai weekend was surely something to forget, but there are still some positive things that we found on the bike which I hope will help in the next rounds. Phillip Island is the first on the list: a circuit where I have always been fast and which I really like. I hope to be able to put into practice what I learned in Buriram. Malaysia will be one of the most demanding races of the season: we have a bit of reference from the test at the start of the year ". And he sums up by way of conclusion: “ you will have to use your head well and manage your energies well ».
