Sepang.- Enea Bastianini is fourth overall in the World Championship, with 191 points and, mathematically, he still has a chance of being world champion with two races remaining and with 50 points still at stake. A very remote possibility, although for the Italian, who has achieved four victories this year, the goal is now to unseat Aleix Espargaró from the World Cup podium.
“My chances of being champion are tiny, very small, but I’m going to try to give my best and be important, show ourselves fast on Sunday and tomorrow, because qualifying is the key to MotoGP right now, if you start late on the grid you suffer a lot, It’s very hot here, and that makes the temperature of the bikes and tires rise and you suffer a lot,” explained the Italian in the run-up to the Malaysian Grand Prix, which takes place this weekend.
“For my part, I will try to finish the championship in the top 3, I now see Aleix closer (17 points) and that may be our objective now, to beat him in the general classification”, the Ducati rider stated.
In Australia Bastianini was the rider with the best pace, but a poor start and problems in the first few laps condemned him to a comeback that took him to fifth position.
“It’s always difficult to say things in the past, but on the second lap my airbag exploded and it was difficult to stay on top of the bike. My pace was very good afterwards, I opted for the front hard tire and it was a good choice, I was able to get there until the end, but it was impossible for me to get the podium. I am very happy with the performance in the race, I had never achieved a good result in Phillip Island and the truth is that I am happy to have achieved it, “he explained.
In the pre-season tests held in Sepang, Bastianini was the fastest driver, a real calling card for the race.
“When I tried the 2021 bike in the test I was excited, because it is a very strong machine and it was very nice to ride it here. But the conditions were very different from now, on a physical level it will be a tough grand prix, but I am ready to fight It will be more difficult compared to the tests, also because the other Ducati riders, and the 2022 bike, have taken a big step forward compared to then, but we are prepared to finish the World Championship in the best possible way.”
Unlike the officers, the Pramacs and Luca Marini, Bastianini competes on a Desmosedici GP21 , which at first gave him an advantage, as it was a well-made and winning bike, but in the end it was not so much, as it evolved very little. .
“My bike, from the beginning until now is very similar, but a bit better, we have a new aerodynamic package from Austria and it has been competitive. In other areas it is very similar, I have some improvements, but the steps have been small. “.
The one who has best known how to squeeze the most out of GP22 has been, without a doubt, a Pecco Bagnaia who can be proclaimed world champion this very Sunday.
“I think Pecco has potential this weekend, Ducati is very fast and he goes fast on this circuit, but it will also depend on Fabio Quartararo, he will be very motivated, tomorrow Friday we will see the potential of each one for the weekend”, concluded the one in Rimini.
