Bastianini’s Bold Breakthrough: Triumphs in MotoGP Sprint Race and Sheds Light on Silverstone Struggles

Enea Bastianini discusses intense "give it your all" race battle with Jorge Martin

Winner Enea Bastianini also questioned on Pecco Bagnaia's accident

Enea Bastianini achieved a significant milestone by securing not just his first podium finish in a MotoGP sprint race, but also clinching his inaugural sprint victory at the British Grand Prix.

The Ducati team's racer surged ahead of Jorge Martin on the sixth lap, executing an assertive braking maneuver at Stowe corner to capture the lead.

He managed to fend off competitor #89, securing the victory, and due to Marc Marquez's failure to finish, he ascended to third place in the World Championship rankings.

"Bastianini shared with the press, including Crash.net, that the race presented challenges, particularly because Jorge was aggressive in the initial laps, making it hard,"

"In the end, I noticed a unique opportunity on the track and altered my strategy in the third sector."

"I'm pleased! I managed to make my move at the braking point, which allowed me to gain some space from him (Martin) during the final laps… I'm content. Indeed, I gave it my all, and I believe Jorge also really gave it his all."

During the cool-down lap, Bastianini and Martin required help to reach the podium, indicating that they had pushed their fuel usage to the edge, which underscores the challenging nature of the Silverstone Circuit.

Bastianini stated, "Indeed, we reached our threshold, and I'm optimistic about improvements for tomorrow. I believe Jorge activated Fuel Map B, pushing boundaries further than I did. I managed to cross the finish line without any issues."

When inquired about the reasons behind the frequent crashes of his teammate Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin, Bastianini provided a concise explanation, suggesting that it might be due to the way the rear tire exerts pressure during the entry into corners.

"Typically, during this time of the year, we encounter a specific issue at the back, particularly when entering a turn, where the rear tends to slide out. It's interesting to consider opting for the hard tyre for the upcoming race, as using the medium tyre today posed some challenges, especially when taking left-hand corners. I believe switching to the hard tyre for tomorrow's race might be a more suitable choice."

On Thursday, Bastianini emphasized the importance of enhancing his qualifying results in the latter half of the season to increase his opportunities for podium finishes or victories. His impressive showing in Q2 secured him a third-place start on the front row at Silverstone. However, he maintained that a shift in fortune from the earlier part of the season played a role.

"I'm not sure what adjustments I made, as I stayed consistent with my set-up. The initial interaction with the bike on Friday felt incredibly positive. Throughout practice, whether I was using old tyres or new ones, I consistently found myself leading. This gave me the confidence that I had a strong chance to excel in the qualifying round."

"I believe I've experienced some bad luck during the initial stages of the championship. There were numerous instances involving yellow flags and accidents that complicated my efforts to narrow the distance with my competitors in the race. However, today's race felt significantly smoother, and I faced fewer challenges than what's typical for me!"

He emphasized his fondness for the Silverstone circuit, ranking it among his top choices on the racing schedule, even though he faced challenges during the 2023 GP2 season.

"I really enjoy this circuit; it appeals to me due to its rapid pace and frequent shifts in direction. The speed was impressive in 2022, and remarkably, it feels just the same riding the 2024 model bike. Last season was tough for me, indeed. It was a challenging time, and I wasn't performing at my peak. But absolutely, Silverstone has my heart."

Nonetheless, the essential aspect emphasized by the Italian revolved around choosing the appropriate tire mix and maintaining it effectively throughout the race.

He mentioned, "Tomorrow's race will be a distinct challenge since we exerted ourselves excessively, particularly affecting the rear in the final two or three laps, making it difficult. I believe it's crucial to pace ourselves during the race's initial stages to ensure the rear tyre is in optimal condition towards the end."

"The aim is to select the optimal tyre option available."

"We can find a solution to the riding technique issue to some extent… But how? I'm not sure how!"

"We possess the necessary information to evaluate against other cyclists to determine if they have adopted more effective strategies, allowing us to test those approaches ourselves. This presents a valuable alternative when you find yourself lagging or facing difficulties."

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