The resolution of the MotoGP race of the Malaysian Grand Prix will leave us, forever, in doubt as to whether Enea Bastianini stuck to the orders of the Ducati team by not bothering Pecco Bagnaia, winner of the race and now only two points behind proclaim himself champion, or, on the contrary, if he had no more and lost “sportsmanlike” with who will be his new teammate next season.
Gresini’s, who started second on the grid, was overtaken by Pecco after the start, under braking for the first corner. Circulating third, Bastianini was seen to be very cautious, without putting pressure on the World Cup leader. After the fall of Jorge MartÃn, poleman and leader of the race in the first six laps, Enea remained second, behind Pecco, always very close but without excessively giving the feeling that his plans were to attack him to try to win.
At that time, with Pecco leading, Enea second and Fabio Quartararo third, the World Championship was not resolved, but behind him, Marco Bezzecchi reached the Frenchman and an overtaking did close Ducati’s achievement of the crown for the first time since 2007.
Unexpectedly, however, after the first ten laps of a scheduled twenty race, Bastianini passed Pecco and took the lead. For a few moments it seemed that the Rimini had something more than Bagnaia and that he could escape, while Bezzecchi still seemed capable of catching and passing Quartararo.
The situation would have been comical, since that overtaking of the VR46 rookie, combined with Enea’s victory, would have left Ducati with honey on their lips.
But with 7 laps to go, Bagnaia overtook Bastianini again, although Bezzecchi’s sorpasso never came and Quartararo was able to extend the resolution of the title for two more weeks, until Valencia.
With MartÃn out of action and Bezzecchi already off the hook from Quartararo, Bagnaia and Bastianini were in the lead fighting for victory, one of the defenses marked by Ducati in the team orders. According to the Italian house, it asked its drivers not to do stupid things with Pecco, not to overtake him if they were fighting for positions outside the podium, but that they had freedom if victory was at stake.
Logically, at the end of the race, Bastianini was asked if he was on his mind to try and win.
“I was very close, especially in the last lap, but I think it was difficult to catch him in the last part of the track and it was important for me to stay close to the first,” explained the Gresini man.
Already in the final part of the last lap, it was possible to see how Enea had to open up to avoid hitting Pecco.
“In turn 9 I tried to go on the inside, but it was difficult, so I went on the outside,” he said, acknowledging that he wanted to go for victory.
“Yes, I like to attack, but always carefully because for Ducati this title is important,” he admitted.
“I tried to overtake Pecco again on the last lap, but it was a bit dangerous,” conceded the Rimini rider, acknowledging that he was measuring his manoeuvres.
“Sometimes you also have to see the other issues, you fight for the championship and that’s how it is”.
Gresini’s chance would have been midway through the race, when he passed Pecco and tried to break away, unsuccessfully.
“It was a good race, we started quite well, and we quickly tried to go on the attack to prevent the tire pressure from rising, Martin crashed and I thought it was the right time to attack,” he said.
“I put myself first, but I had no traction, the bike was not working well at all,” revealed the problem.
“I’ve done my race, I’ve tried to give my best, but we weren’t one hundred percent, something wasn’t quite right on the bike”.
“In any case, I have given my maximum”, settled the Beast trying to make it clear that he always had in mind to try to win the race.
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Srinivasa Krishnan
Photo by: Srinivasa Krishnan
Photo by: Srinivasa Krishnan
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
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Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Foto de: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
