RiderTua.com – Enea Bastianini’s performance at the season-opening race in Qatar 2022 was truly unforgettable. In his first race for the Gresini Ducati team, the 25 year old racer was unstoppable and won in impressive fashion. The key to his victory at the Lusail circuit was training that was no less strong. Being the fastest rider in P3 and 2nd in the all-important Q2 session, the front row of the grid and a high level of aggressiveness in all practice sessions allowed Bestia to apply his pace.
In the following races Bastianini also appeared strong, but he also often showed hesitation. A race where the immensely talented Bestian is only able to break away from the midfield in the final sprint is more the rule than the exception.
Enea Bastianini: The keyword is aggressive
Despite fluctuating results, Enea Bastianini got one of the two most coveted spots on the factory Ducati team. After a season marred by injury, the rider from Rimini, Italy, is looking forward to the new season and his second chance to fight for the World Title.
In the final test in Qatar, the racer with starting number #23 was close behind teammate and defending champion Pecco Bagnaia in the range of 0.001 seconds. If we use the last day’s test in Lusail as a benchmark, the two Ducati Lenovo riders started the year as favourites.
However, Bastianini is aware that he needs a different approach in the 2024 season. In the Lusail paddock, the 2020 Moto2 champion explained, “The key word is aggressiveness. I am very busy with that. On the one hand, it is very important to be offensive, especially at the start of the race. That’s one thing. Aggressiveness is also related to racing style. And I’m the opposite. I prefer gentle movements and I find my particular strength when entering corners right in the middle of them. So moving aggressively wouldn’t be good. It’s about having aggressiveness in our brain.”
When asked, can Bestia also train him when training on the track, for example when riding a Supermoto? “It’s still a matter of thinking in the head. But we worked well in time attack, especially during pre-season testing. Being at the forefront in every race must be my approach this year,” concluded manager Carlo Pernat’s protégé.
