Enea Bastianini, four victories in 2022 on a Desmosedici GP21, now on a factory machine, in Austria, the favorite country of Ducatists. Normally, without a doubt, this set plays for victory. But this year, however, it promises to be tortuous. Even if according to him, “Bestia” is no longer carrying around his heavy injury from Portugal, he still cannot do it, and is in 16th place at the end of the first day. So, obviously, he can always find a solution in Q1 but facing Jack Miller and Marc Márquez, the task promises to be difficult. Still no light at the end of the tunnel.
“I know what I did last year can be done again. I am the same pilot. But I make a lot of modifications to the bike, and nothing changes. I feel like I'm still at the same point. The goal is to find good sensations, the rest doesn't matter to me. When I have them, the results will come. » It is with these harsh but fair words that Enea Bastianini describes her situation in Austria on the microphone of GP One. Already at Silverstone, he mentioned this bad patch by stipulating that he should, perhaps, change his driving style. What a shame to see such a talent, so flamboyant not long ago on the scale of a lifetime, struggling to this extent.
Looking good in the sun! 😎 #AustrianGP#ForzaDucati #DucatiLenovoTeam pic.twitter.com/56Frixc2PW
- Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) August 18
Concerning his performance this Friday, Enea is even more lucid. « It could have gone better. When I started to push, the problems returned, that is to say, in particular, the difficulties braking. I can't fly on instinct, I even crashed. » he confided. A lot of work followed during the Practice, but who didn't pay either. “We smoothed out different things, I changed settings, and yet I crashed. It's a shame, I was not able to attack, discover my true potential as well as that of the bike » All we have to do is wait for tomorrow for the Italian driver, and a big challenge awaits him from Q1.
As a great champion, he does not lose hope. « I'm not worried, it's only the second race where I'm 100%. If it's still like this in five, six Grands Prix, then it will become a problem. I absolutely must find the sensations that I miss; today I aimed for the result but it didn't work." A very sad situation, which, according to all evidence, will not improve drastically on Spielberg's side.
Do you think we will see again the Bastianini we all knew before the end of the season? Tell us in the comments!
Here is the Practice ranking for the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
Cover photo: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
