Stunned Bastianini Reveals Why He Chose KTM Over Aprilia Amid Ducati Shake-Up

Stunning revelation from Enea Bastianini: “I assumed it was a contest between Jorge Martin and myself”

Enea Bastianini explains why he chose KTM over Aprilia

Enea Bastianini admitted that he was taken aback by the decision to have Marc Marquez take his place for the next season.

Ducati has chosen Gresini's Marquez to join their official team for the 2025 MotoGP season, instead of Pramac's Jorge Martin.

Bastianini, who will be replaced, believed he was directly competing with Martin (a contest he had previously won in late 2022).

"I was surprised by this decision; it never crossed my mind," he mentioned to Sky Italia.

"I believed it was more of a personal conflict between Martin and myself."

Martin, who at first seemed the most probable candidate for a promotion to the factory Ducati team, has now secured a contract with Aprilia for 2025 after being overlooked.

Bastianini, replaced by Marquez, is set to become part of the Tech3 KTM team, which will receive comprehensive support from the factory.

What made Bastianini choose KTM instead of Aprilia?

Bastianini confessed that the Aprilia offer was appealing to him as well.

"Ultimately, I decided to go back to my previous crew chief, bringing along a bike that remained highly competitive."

Alberto Giribuola will be in the KTM garage waiting for Bastianini.

He mentioned that, fortunately, they would not need to begin again from the beginning.

"Since we are well-acquainted, I believe this could be an advantage."

However, Bastianini faces the challenge of giving up the top-tier and highly sought-after motorcycle in MotoGP.

He mentioned his approach to riding the KTM: "I'll start without high expectations, but I'll put in a lot of effort during the tests to reach the top quickly."

In 2022, Bastianini, who was riding for Gresini at the time, secured the second-highest number of race victories, trailing only behind the ultimate champion, Pecco Bagnaia.

From time to time, they raced side by side and were expected to sustain a heated competition while being teammates.

The addition of Marquez next year could pose a new challenge for Bagnaia.

Bastianini expressed confidence that Marc and Pecco are both highly intelligent individuals who will find a way to coexist harmoniously.

Bastianini still has the opportunity to make a significant impression as a Ducati factory rider during the second half of this year.

Regrettably, there is a risk that his two-year tenure will be overshadowed by the injury he sustained during his debut match in red.

An injury to his shoulder in Portimao last year dashed Bastianini's aspirations of contending for the championship.

He described his influence at Ducati as being quite shocking.

"Taking a fall and sustaining an injury during the initial race impacted my performance throughout the entire first season. This year feels like my debut as a professional rider. Maybe, with an additional year…"

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