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Enea Bastianini's first time in Motegi riding a MotoGP bike was somewhat bitter. The Rimini rider, who here in Japan has only ever ridden with a Moto2 bike due to the pandemic, had to tackle a rather particular circuit with a single practice session and moreover had a crash in the last few minutes that prevented him from setting a time that, if it rains tomorrow, would have allowed him to avoid Q1.
"It was a pity, we got a lot out of it. I started to learn the track and the trajectories with the MotoGP bike, and when I started to go well we changed the tire and made some small changes that made me feel more comfortable. Unfortunately on the first lap the front of the bike closed at turn 5 and I crashed. I would say the pace was good. We were also first and I think the pace wasn't bad. The only thing is that, with only one session, everything is done in a hurry, however, tomorrow there is a risk of rain. It's not good, for sure it’s like this for everyone ... the important thing is to hope for a dry qualifying because we are competitive ".
Unfortunately the weather forecasts are not looking good.
“Yes, rain is expected for tomorrow and at this point it’s going to be difficult to get to Q2, but in any case I also have to become familiar with the wet. The grip here is good but we have seen that in Motegi when there is a lot of water there is a risk of aquaplaning, we have to stay calm. "
What’s your overall impression of Motegi with the MotoGP bike?
“I like this track, it's not very difficult to overtake because there are so many strong braking points and it will be difficult to overtake the Ducatis, but it's too early to give any opinions. The track is narrow but nice, the bike is stable, even if it is easier with the Moto2 ”.
This is a stop-and-go circuit, ideal for using the lowering device a lot.
“I only use it twice, others use it more, but it depends on your riding style and I don't like to use it often”.
Have you used any new components here in Japan?
“The two bikes I use are very similar, I haven't tried anything new that I know of. The important thing for me is to check what the other Ducatis are doing every time. I can compare the data and this is very important, especially with Pecco and Jack, who are the two official riders ”.
