A bit like Marc Marquez – with whom he is still battling for third place in the championship –, Enea Bastianini is an arbiter in Malaysia. If he won this Grand Prix last season, he is no longer the favourite, as the top two in the general classification seem to be monopolising the debate. However, he too has a good shot at playing, because third place in the scratch is gradually slipping away from him, due to Marc Marquez's progress since the Austrian Grand Prix.
If everyone thinks about Bagnaia or Martin, Bastianini has his say. After all, he also won a Sprint in Thailand. But the two rivals fighting for the title get all the attention, and that's quite normal. In any case, "Bestia" is quite happy with his day. « It went pretty much as I imagined.. At the beginning I wasn't very competitive, but I was able to improve as the day went on. Lately I've been suffering when there was little grip. Today it was very hot, the situation was complicated for everyone. But there are some pretty incredible vibrations, maybe it's the tires, or maybe the track. But it doesn't make things any easier." he confided in the columns of GP One.
100% Focused! Time attack mode on! #MalaysianGP pic.twitter.com/3r5TD5n8q4
- Ducati Corse (@ducaticorse) November 1, 2024
Fortunately, the Italian improved quite late and his effort was enough to take third place in Practice. “Towards the end, I was much happier. I found the feeling I was looking for. We made some changes to the bike and it felt better. » he added, aware of his potential.
Photo: Michelin Motorsport
Can he beat Jorge Martin and, above all, his teammate Pecco Bagnaia, who finished first in both sessions of the day? He thinks so. “I’ve been fast in qualifying recently, and in the Sprint too.. I am more worried about the Grand Prix because I don't know yet which tire I will use.. But today I could have gone for first place. I don't lack anything on a lap, on the other hand, in terms of pace, Jorge is a tenth ahead of everyone. I think he is the one who makes the difference." he concluded.
Do you think he is capable of repeating the feat of Buriram tomorrow? Tell us in the comments!
MotoGP Practice Result at the 2024 Malaysian Grand Prix:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
