Enea Bastianini will start the Malaysian Grand Prix from second position, after a qualifying session dominated by Jorge Martín’s Ducati. The good result of both non-official drivers joins the disaster of Pecco Bagnaia, ninth, Jack Miller, 14th, and Johann Zarco, 18th. Only those of the VR46 got into the Top10, with Marco Bezzecchi fourth and Luca Marini sixth.
However, Bastianini was not sure that he would be able to qualify in the top positions, after a discreet grand prix start . “We didn’t start the weekend well,” the Italian commented at the post-Q2 press conference. “On Friday I made several mistakes, but today we were able to change something on the bike and I came to FP4 with more confidence.”
Enea was impressed with his teammate’s time, a new Sepang outright record, calling his lap “super fast”. “I think it was impossible to improve his time. I was surprised by [the pole position], because with these temperatures on the asphalt it is not easy at all,” he added.
“But it’s always good to start from the front row”, commented the transalpine, who sets victory as his goal: “We will try to fight for victory, but a podium would also be good”.
Bastianini also commented on the possible advantage that the premier class drivers had in Malaysia, having ridden there in the pre-season tests. “The bike is very similar to the preseason one. We only have a new fairing, which helps us to turn, but in terms of grip, for example, we were better in the tests than now.”
With these results, ‘La Bestia’ closes the year as it began: in the top positions . “I think it has been a fantastic season, and I hope to be just as fast next year. It will be difficult, because Pecco is very good, but I think the fight will be interesting. I come with the confidence of knowing that I can be fast”, he valued. .
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