Bastianini made headlines all through the 2022 season as he guided his satellite tv for pc Gresini Ducati to 4 victories and a collection of podium finishes, incomes a spot within the manufacturing unit workforce for the next season.
A lot was anticipated from the Italian as he joined the identical workforce as reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia final yr, however an harm within the dash race within the opener in Portugal sidelined from the primary quarter of the marketing campaign.
Bastianini was simply discovering his ft on the works workforce when he suffered one other fracture within the Catalan GP and it wasn’t till the Indonesia weekend in October that he may make a correct comeback.
There was even talks of Pramac rider Jorge Martin taking his place in 2024 within the wake of his title problem, however Bastianini managed to retain his seat following a stellar victory in Malaysia as Martin missed out on an automated promotion by dropping the title to Bagnaia.
Returning to the venue of his maiden win on a manufacturing unit Ducati within the first pre-season check of 2024, Bastianini ended up a strong third on the timesheets behind Bagnaia and Martin, and likewise confirmed comparable tempo to the duo on lengthy runs.
It’s this pace that has delighted the highest brass at Ducati, with Tardozzi claiming he’s now in a position to exhibit the identical model of himself that secured him a seat within the manufacturing unit workforce within the first place.
“Enea is completely over the moon as a result of after a very dangerous yr he had final yr, battling confidence with the bike, all of the accidents, the accident within the first race in Portimao, it was one thing actually heavy to have on his shoulders,” Tardozzi instructed motogp.com.
“He had an excellent race in Malaysia however he was struggling till the top in Valencia. However now he’s one other rider, he’s the Enea Bastianini that we noticed in 2022 and we’re actually assured that he will likely be one of many contenders.”
Enea Bastianini, Ducati Crew
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Bagnaia feels it’s troublesome to attract any conclusions from the Sepang check, as a wide range of variables make it troublesome to get an entire image of the pecking order.
Nonetheless, he’s sure that Bastianini will likely be preventing on the entrance this season, praising him for the consistency he confirmed within the sweltering Malaysian warmth.
“It is very troublesome to foretell throughout a check as a result of many riders are testing many issues,” he mentioned.
“I did an excellent long term however I used to be having an issue in the course of the lengthy runs and I used to be a bit slower than regular. So you’ll be able to say, ‘Lengthy-run Pecco wasn’t quick’.
“So it’s totally troublesome to know, it will depend on tyres, it will depend on many issues, however I feel one rider that will likely be aggressive again [again] will likely be Enea as a result of I feel he labored effectively and he was fairly fixed.
“Martin for certain. But in addition, [Marc] Marquez did an excellent check, bettering day by day. Alex [Marquez] was additionally aggressive right here and he demonstrated.
“So this check may be very aggressive. But in addition KTM and Aprilia. Perhaps the beginning of the season [will be] extra open in comparison with different years.”
Bastianini felt extra in tune with the 2024-spec Ducati in comparison with the GP23 he rode final yr, with the arrogance translating into improved pace in each quick and lengthy runs.
Enea Bastianini, Ducati Crew
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
The 26-year-old declared he was happy with the efficiency at Sepang and is hoping to hone the bike additional within the remaining pre-season check in Qatar.
“I’ve improved in comparison with final yr,” he mentioned. “Additionally, it was necessary for me to be quick on the time laps. Now we have made it into the 1m56s [bracket], and in the event you instructed me earlier than right here, [I would have said] it was not possible. However we’ve got made this and it’s good.
“We’re able to race but in addition we’ve got to attempt another options in Qatar and it is necessary to alter the monitor to see how is the response of the bike.
“For the second the brand new aero is [working well] however we’ve got to examine that. Additionally the outcomes and the opposite options of the bike. However the bundle is sweet.”