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Enea Bastianini is certainly not having an easy debut riding the KTM RC16 in his first weekend as a rider for the Austrian manufacturer. But the situation, as complex as it is, is perhaps not as dramatic as it might seem because listening carefully to his statements at the end of Friday in Buriram, it seems clear that there is a defined area where a clear step forward and braking is needed. A juncture that has become increasingly important in modern MotoGP and one that Bastianini was used to handling in a completely different way with the Ducati on which he has always raced since he arrived in the top class.
"Let's say that as I had said yesterday, we started to work a little bit with the set-up to understand what direction to take - were Enea's words - We didn't make big steps forward, but something small that helped me to get a little bit of confidence we found it."
Do you feel better on the bike compared to testing?
"Not particularly, it's going to be a long process. I would hope to gain positions right away, but to be realistic it's clear that it's not time yet."
Do you know how Acosta makes such a marked difference?
"I haven't actually seen Pedro's data yet, however unlike me he can brake well with the KTM. Until I can do that, until I find the confidence even at that juncture, I just lose time, a lot of time. Otherwise for good or for bad I am close to him, but in braking I just can't be as effective as I would like."
What do you expect from tomorrow, will you just think about working on the feeling or do you want to try to get a result?
"Definitely I will have to look at the result as well, but the reality is that today it is more important to collect data. Obviously that's not what a rider wants, especially at the first race. It was just as hard as in testing. I made a lot of mistakes during my laps, with the problems I have you basically can't push especially when you put on a new tire. You try to fight, but in the end it's hard. But I have to say it was already planned, I know I have to work and improve. At the moment the feeling is one if we consider a scale of one to ten. I have to improve and stay focused, especially for the future."
On your bike there is no Salad Box, will you try it?
"I haven't tried the so-called salad box, I don't know whether to try it maybe later, maybe it helps me. Or maybe it is not a suitable choice for me. One of the keys for me would be to have a smaller seat, because right now it's too big for me and I can't position my feet well. But at the moment I don't have this part and will have to wait a little bit."
How does the braking problem affect you?
"In braking it is difficult for me to close the corners, in some corners in particular like the last one. In 22 laps I did today, I closed the line well there only once. When it's like that, the situation is critical but there is also some positive. Because I also know I can make a big leap forward for the future, but we have to do it."
Usually you are a real race animal, what do you expect from your first race with the RC16?
"At the moment I haven't done a real race pace simulation, because I've made so many mistakes, so I often broke the rhythm as I went around. First I would push, then I would give up, then I would start pushing again and maybe make mistakes. I don't know what the real potential of the KTM is in the race, tomorrow maybe with the Sprint I will start to understand it, but I think I will only find out everything on Sunday."
