Bastianini, a small false move at Termas: will he bounce back at Austin?

A big surprise in Qatar, still in the lead after Indonesia, downsized in Argentina. Enea Bastianini started the 2022 MotoGP season in the best possible way, winning the Lusail race and gifting the Gresini team an inaugural victory that was perhaps unexpected but definitely deserved.

At Mandalika, the 2020 Moto2 champion fought hard, taking on the challenges of very hot temperatures, rain, pieces of asphalt breaking away, tyres that wouldn’t grip… And, with effort and patience, his Ducati Gp21 held on to first place in the standings, with a points tally of 30.

This lead then vanished at Termas de Rio Hondo however, after a difficult weekend in which material arrived late to the paddock, leaving teams with little time to prepare. In addition,  it was the number 23 rider’s first visit to the South American track, and so perhaps it was unlikely that he’d do any better than he did.

Enea prepares to fight back at the US MotoGP

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Beyond wanting to score the best possible results for himself and the Gresini team, Bastianini is fighting another battle, and it regards his professional future…. It’s no secret that Bestia wants a factory ride in 2023. Or rather a factory team, bike, spares, support, company and… salary, all privileges that those belonging to factory squads enjoy.

If possible, the Ducati Lenovo team. The 24-year old Italian was already strong last year with Avintia Esponsorama, he’s very strong now with the team headed up by Nadia Padovani, and he’d clearly do well with the Borgo Panigale factory machine, although he’s not alone in targeting this ride, as there’s another Ducati man with similar ambitions.

We’re talking about Jorge Martin, who came so close to a win last weekend but was ultimately pipped to the post by Aleix Espargarò on the Aprilia. The Pramac Racing rider currently has a GP22, but he wants a Lenovo factory GP23. And he wants it just as much as Enea. While the Termas round saw the Italian’s share prices drop, the Spaniard’s began to climb.

Enea will do his best to claim victory

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Enea enjoys the Americas GP and scored a strong sixth-place finish in last year’s race. He did even better back in Moto3, reaching the second step of the podium in 2018. But now the situation is different, as well as more complicated.

The track is challenging, with potholes and bumps that made life difficult for the riders in 2021. The lap times will also be extremely close. Enea is well aware of all this, but we’re certain that he is keen to respond to the recent downhill trend.

It will be important to reach Europe with the highest possible morale and the best possible position in the standings, because the Italian is then in for a tough sprint from Portimão to Aragón. And decisions will be made as to 2023, the riders’ market seemingly quiet but in fact already buzzing. Bastianini will need to raise his voice already in the States if he wants to be able to sing further down the line.

Translated by Heather Watson

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