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Enea Bastianini 's balance is not entirely positive at the end of Saturday's Catalan GP. Despite having finished the Catalan Sprint Race in fifth position, after having started from eleventh place on the grid, the Lenovo Ducati team bearer does not hide a bit of regret both for the result of the race, and for the knowledge that he is still a step away from being able to insert himself in the fight for victory.
"I am half-satisfied because the position is not bad, however, I expected something more today," admitted Enea drawing the balance of his day: "I did not feel good, especially this morning. I tried to do a good qualifying, but I struggled more than yesterday in the time attack and then I also had my fast lap cancelled, so... One behind the other. Then in the race I got a good start and made a good comeback, but when Marc passed me I had to raise the bike to avoid touching and I lost a lot of time. From there on I tried to catch up, but not really being in place at the moment I struggled. The only one I could catch was Martin, but I made another small mistake."
Despite a fairly positive start to the season, the Rimini native seems unable to make that "click" that could allow him to return to the fight for the top step of the podium.
"Honestly, I didn' t expect to make that extra step on this track, because since I've been in MotoGP I've always struggled here so much. The Ducati seems to suffer a little bit more here than at the tracks where we have been so far, but yes, I am missing something," Enea acknowledged, " I am missing that little something that I had in Le Mans actually, where I think we could have fought for the win. Here we are lacking it and I, moreover, am someone who rides a lot with the front and here it is critical."
In fact, the low grip offered by the Montmeló track was a big problem for several riders, as evidenced also by the several crashes recorded throughout the day.
"The conditions were really critical, especially in maximum lean angle where the grip is really zero and you have to hold yourself up with your knee, otherwise it's a moment you crash. These conditions are definitely borderline for MotoGP, so hopefully next year there will be new asphalt," commented the Ducati rider. "Unfortunately, we had an event yesterday and I didn't get to go to the Safety Commision, but I hope, and I think, someone said something."
Despite struggling in the first race of the weekend in Barcelona, the Beast managed to recover a position in the world championship standings, overtaking his teammate Francesco Bagnaia, who ended up on the ground in the last lap. A positive performance, but still a meager consolation.
"I'm glad to be consistent, but it bothers me more that I'm missing something. I want to close this gap I have so I can always fight for the victory, which is something I lack. I know we have the potential, but there is still a little something to figure out ," Bastianini said , " The problems are always the same and here they are amplified. In the last race, as I said, I was okay. It was a track that was favorable to me and where we could achieve much more. Doing a similar race again tomorrow would be 'fine,' however, we need to take a step forward."
Being able to repeat today's performance, however, will not be so easy. Especially because of tyre choice and grip. "Tomorrow will be a mess," noted the Ducati rider, "It will be very difficult to manage the tyres, especially at the front. At least as far as I'm concerned, since I can manage the rear pretty well. What worries me the most is the front tyre."
