Do not call it surprise anymore, because it is now becoming a certainty. The apprenticeship was not easy at the beginning of the season, but for some races now Enea Bastianini is starting to carve out a leading role in MotoGP as well, among other things always showing off crazy comebacks. Without forgetting that he has a Ducati GP19, therefore not exactly the most advanced vehicle on the grid.
The Romagna rookie conquered the third consecutive top 6 in Austin, climbing up ten positions compared to the one he occupied on the starting grid of the Grand Prix of the Americas. On the last lap he also took advantage of a contact between Joan Mir and Jack Miller to put them both on and take the sixth position. But by now the driver of the Avintia Esponsorama seems to have earned the status of a driver capable of battling in the top positions on a regular basis.
“I’m happy, because from Silverstone to today we have really made a big step. Every race I feel more and more that I am part of the leading group. I think I can always play in the top positions. Today I didn’t think of finishing sixth, because I started 16th. and on a track like Austin I knew it wasn’t easy to come back, but I succeeded, “said Enea after the race.
“On the last lap I waited for them to make a mistake in front of me, because Mir and Miller saw them pretty loaded. In the end they touched at turn 15 and I threw myself in, so it came out in sixth place,” he added.
The next appointment will be back in Misano, where a couple of weeks ago he conquered his first podium in the premier class. It is therefore normal that for the Grand Prix of Emilia Romagna and Made in Italy the goal bar could be even higher.
“Obviously the goal is to improve, so do better than third place. But we have to be realistic, because every weekend is different and the conditions will be different, it will certainly be cooler. We will see where we are when we return to Misano, but we will try.” .
Being one of the youngest on the grid, with a fairly fresh past in Moto3, Enea was also asked about the terrible accident seen in Texas, which led to the disqualification for two Grands Prix of the rider who triggered him, the Turkish Deniz Oncu.
“I would have suspended him until the end of the championship in reality. For me Oncu was really aggressive, but that is normally his style. I have followed the Moto3 and it seems slightly over the top in all the races. These are maneuvers that should be avoided. , but I remember well that when you are younger you are also more unconscious “.
“With everything that has already happened this year, we need to pay more attention. For me it was not fair even to do a five-lap race, because we know well that those who know they can finish in front would have done a little more to succeed, increasing the risks”.
When asked if he thinks the situation has worsened in Moto3 compared to his times, he added: “When I was racing there were some riders who went a bit out of line, but not as much as we are seeing in the last two. or three years “.
Enea Bastianini, Esponsorama Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images