A rider who has achieved five victories in the premier-class, some of them dominant and others hard-fought, in 49 grand prix starts, Enea Bastianini has already demonstrated his ability to contend for the MotoGP title. However, what remains to be proven is whether he can compete for the title in the current iteration of MotoGP. This may seem like a harsh distinction, but Bastianini himself appears to be aware of it. At 26 years old, the Italian rider believes in his ability to adapt to the current championship format.
While Ducati may not necessarily require Bastianini to fight for the title, as they already have Pecco Bagnaia for that purpose, the team finds itself in a situation where they have multiple riders who they would hate to lose. If Ducati were to let go of any of these riders, other manufacturers could potentially acquire them and use their skills to defeat Ducati. Jorge Martin, currently riding for Pramac Ducati, openly desires Bastianini’s seat. During the Qatar Grand Prix, Martin, a title contender for 2023, stated that he would have already signed for the works seat if it had been offered to him. He sees himself as the main competitor for that seat and believes that Ducati would choose him based on his performance.
Martin alone poses a significant threat, and most riders in MotoGP would eagerly accept the opportunity to take Bastianini’s seat. Whether any of them will have the chance to do so depends on whether Bastianini can effectively utilize his strengths in a format that may not align perfectly with his abilities. Bastianini has adjusted his approach for this season, aiming to maintain a more consistent performance. He acknowledges that although he achieved four victories and several podium finishes in the 2022 season, there were times when he fell behind. He has worked diligently during testing to improve his time attack skills, recognizing the importance of consistently staying at the top. This year, his approach will be slightly different, and he is eager to see how it unfolds.
Qualifying is an essential aspect of MotoGP, and Bastianini understands this well. His average grid position in MotoGP is 12.3, which is not sufficient for success. However, he has proven that he can achieve lap record pace when conditions are favorable, having secured a pole position at the Red Bull Ring and performed exceptionally during the pre-season. Bastianini recognizes that qualifying is just one part of the equation and that everything leading up to the race is equally important.
With the introduction of sprints, MotoGP’s “lights out” has moved a day earlier. As a result, qualifying now takes place one session earlier, and the 10 spots in Q2 are determined based on practice sessions held earlier. Although the opening practice of the weekend no longer contributes to Q2, the need to perform well early on remains crucial, as Friday essentially becomes the qualifying day. While data from the first practice session is often unreliable, it is worth noting that Bastianini’s performance in FP1 has not been as impressive as his qualifying performances. His average position in FP1s during the 2022 season was 10.95, compared to his average grid position of 9.00. In 2023, his average position in FP1s was 13.62, while his average grid position was 12.31. Bastianini acknowledges the importance of being aggressive from the start of each session, as MotoGP is now a constant battle.
Another challenge for Bastianini is that his particular skill set is less valuable when it comes to scoring points. In 2022, he could recover from a Q1 exit and salvage the weekend with his late-race pace. However, since 2023, a Q1 exit carries a greater penalty, and the sprint race offers limited opportunities to make up for it. Despite struggling with the GP23 and facing frequent injuries in 2023, Bastianini still demonstrated glimpses of his late-race prowess. In the penultimate round in Qatar, he set the fastest lap of the race on the 22nd and final lap, despite finishing in eighth place. While each of the podium finishers achieved lap times in the 1m54s range, Bastianini clocked a lap time in the 1m52s range. Such a skill set will always have its place, but it alone is insufficient when aiming to secure the best ride in MotoGP. Bastianini has focused on improving his early-race pace, recognizing that it requires a mental shift and a more aggressive approach.
The upcoming Qatar Grand Prix will be the first significant test of Bastianini’s new approach, but it is his performance at less-favored tracks that will truly determine his fate. The outcome will likely determine whether he can fend off competition from Martin and others for his seat or if he will have to settle for a lesser opportunity.