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Enea Bastianini is struggling to adapt to the KTM RC16 and the Rimini native's difficulties were also evident in his race debut on the Austrian bike.In the Sprint Race of the Thai GP, the Tech3 team rider was in fact unable to go beyond 19th position. Also due to the difficulties he is experiencing in braking at this start of the championship.
"I made a lot of mistakes, especially in the middle of the race, and lost a lot of time. Tomorrow will be another opportunity for me to test. Where do I lose? In corner entry. It is difficult to come off the brakes with the KTM, because the rear pushes and makes it difficult to turn the bike into the corners - explained Enea - We need to take a step forward in this area, but I still have to understand the situation well and how much to change my style, because this is a bike that allows you to brake hard on the straight and then easily overtake your opponents when you are behind them. Just like I had seen Binder and Acosta do last year. I don't know if it depends on the track, but here we can brake very aggressively, because this bike has less locking on the front than the one I was riding before. Otherwise, though, it's very difficult to get it into the corners. We have to follow a line and hold it."
This is just the beginning of Bastianini's adaptation process to his new mount.
"It is a long journey. Today in the race we were able to better understand what we need, because unlike the data, which only allows you to see what the KTM riders are doing 'different', in the race you see a little bit of everyone - he commented - There are many points to work on, so it will take some time. It is essential to make a change, especially in terms of my style. Even in the race it was more difficult than expected, particularly when I was in a tussle. Tomorrow I will also need to take the race as if it were a test, to understand a few things."
The Tech3 team rider will have to find the perfect balance to be able to get the right understanding with the RC16.
"Let's say KTM will have to take a step in my direction as much as I will have to take a step in theirs, because I'm the first one to say I'm not riding the right way for this bike. I think we can try something tomorrow to try to adapt the bike more to my style, but I think it is easier to try to adapt my style to the bike in these first 3 or 4 races, because KTM knows what I need and where we can improve, but it is not easy. It is not something you can do overnight," he said, "I will have to make a change, waiting for something to come along that can help me. Tomorrow we'll try some solutions on the bike anyway, and now that I know better how it performs in the race, I'm curious to see what the Grand Prix will be like."
In addition to Enea's bike, the other KTMs, however, remained quite far away from the fight at the top.
"Yes, we are a bit far away. Even Binder and Acosta, who have more experience and know very well how to manage the race and what they need, are still a bit behind. I think something is getting out of hand and I know what it is. So, I think KTM can take advantage of the fact that Maverick and I are there, coming from two other competitive bikes. It will be important for them to receive our feedback," the 27-year-old commented, reiterating what area needs to be addressed: "It's known that a great quality of mine has always been corner entry and here I can't exploit it, because the bike doesn't want to corner. The KTM is a more Stop&Go bike that allows you to brake hard from straight on, but then we all lose out in the rest of the braking. That's the point I need us to work on. Does Acosta need more cornering speed? I wouldn't say that. I don't know if the bike was different last year, but I can say that this bike is almost the opposite of what I rode last season and needs a more 'on-off' approach."
