MotoGP | Bastianini: “2025? Ducati knows my potential, tough decision”

A wasted opportunity: perhaps this is how the French Grand Prix could be defined for Enea Bastianini, who crossed the finish line in fourth position after starting from tenth place. He and Marc Marquez were the authors of the most impressive comebacks at Le Mans, where they showed enormous potential. However, if the Gresini standard bearer came close to winning, Beast he lost the podium, also thanks to a penalty.

The Italian proved once again to be very effective in the final stages of the race, setting fast laps and maintaining a pace that almost no one else had. The potential to fight for the victory was all there and for Bastianini Sunday is bitter, despite the result, which is still significant considering the starting position and the obstacles overcome in the race.

“In Jerez we tried new solutions and one was very good for me. From then on I was faster from the start, for this weekend I was confident and I was also fast. But I made several mistakes over the weekend. I don’t know if I would have won, but I would have played it”, explained the Ducati rider with a hint of bitterness. “I had the pace, obviously on my own I can give a little more and it was a shame not to be able to be part of the battle, because today I would have enjoyed myself. For me today it was important to try to win and the speed was good. After overtaking Aleix I took the Long Lap and tried to close the gap again, but it was impossible.”

During the race, in fact, Bastianini fought with Aleix Espargaro and, in an attempt to overtake the Ducati rider, the two touched and the Aprilia rider went wide. The Race Direction decided to impose a penalty on Enea, guilty of having crossed the chicane. Beast However, he offered his version: “I tried to overtake him, he braked very late and went long. I tried to go inside, but it was impossible…”.

“I lost the rear a lot in that braking and I crossed the chicane. I also tried to waste some time and when I looked behind me I didn’t see Aleix. I thought I had lost a second, because I turned this way and that, but you can’t quantify how much you lose, it’s difficult. I didn’t talk to Aleix, but he would have gone long anyway, because, to resist me, he braked later. He went for a long time about him,” he continued, going into detail.

Jorge Martin’s victory is important not only from a championship perspective, but also from a future perspective. The leitmotif of the weekend was Ducati’s choice of rider to partner with Pecco Bagnaia in 2025. Will it still be Bastianini? Enea has to compete with the Spaniard from Pramac and with Marc Marquez, but the decision that the Ducati leaders will have to make will be anything but simple.

“The feeling is strange, because I have the speed,” confessed Bastianini. “But sometimes you have to be lucky and things have to fit together. This isn’t happening to me at the moment. I’m angry about this, but I think Ducati knows my potential and knows what I can do. But he also knows what Jorge is doing at the moment. He won the race today too, he is very fast… I know that Ducati’s decision is very difficult. Personally, it bothers me that I wasn’t able to fight. Then obviously we will have to look to the future, to what will happen… But I missed an opportunity, it was wasted. That’s why I’m very angry.”