Enea Bastianini on Francesco Bagnaia performance: “i tried to stay behind Márquez and Pecco the whole race, but I suffered a bit with the rear and pecco was…”

Enea Bastianini marked a notable return to the MotoGP podium at the San Marino Grand Prix held in Misano this past Sunday. Competing on home turf, the Ducati rider secured a commendable third place, overcoming a challenging race where he had to recover several positions. Bastianini finished behind Marc Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) and his teammate Francesco Bagnaia.

In the post-race press conference, Bastianini, known as “Bestia,” reflected on a race that demanded both tactical caution and aggressive racing. He recounted a dramatic moment early in the race when a light rain caused uncertainty.

“It was beautiful to see the grandstand all pink during the first lap. I’m happy with the podium because the race

was tricky,” he said. Bastianini noted that he had taken significant risks to close the gap to Bagnaia but had to reassess his strategy after a close call.

He explained, “Marc was really fast in that part of the race and got the lead. I tried to stay behind him and Pecco the whole race, but I suffered a bit with the rear – especially on the left side, I lost the rear exiting from the corners. I decided to stay safe after going out at turn 12 with eight or nine laps to go. I took a big risk, but after that, I understood that third place was a good result for this race, and I learned for the next.”

Bastianini also addressed his decision not to switch to rain tires. He explained, “Sometimes when it rains harder here, it starts to smell a bit on the air. But I also saw Bagnaia pushing at the front, and I decided to stay in.

” Despite feeling that the soft tire was the right choice for him, Bastianini admitted that he faced challenges with the medium tire during practice. He commented, “The rear soft was the best choice for me because I used the medium on Friday, but the feeling was a disaster – especially on the left side.

I preferred to stay safe and understand the situation better from the Sprint. However, in the end, the medium might have been a better option since I was in a critical condition. We need to work tomorrow to be better prepared for the second round here in Misano to ensure we have a similar or better feeling with the soft tire.”

Bastianini’s performance in Misano demonstrated his ability to navigate a complex and evolving race situation, making strategic decisions that ultimately led him back to the podium. His insights suggest a continued focus on optimizing tire choice and race strategy for the upcoming round at the Misano circuit.