The last round wasn't one of the happiest for Enea Bastianini. Knocked out on Saturday afternoon and 11th in the GP, the Tech3 rider went to Mandalika knowing of the limits of his bike but equally eager for redemption.
"From Japan, we expected more in terms of speed and, instead, we struggled. But this is a very different track so, before drawing conclusions, I prefer to wait for the response on the track. Usually, the first round here is very difficult, since the surface is dirty, so we'll have to wait for pre-qualifying to get a more accurate answer," he stated.
"Compared to Motegi, it should rear up less, and that should help us. In my opinion, that's one of the most significant issues with our bike and something we'll have to work on for the future. In 2024, Acosta was very fast. Clearly, today's RC16 is different, but we'll see," he pointed out.
In the past edition, the rider from Romagna - who was racing for Ducati Lenovo at the time - had defended himself well, to the extent that he reached the second step of the podium in the Sprint. A good omen for the start of the weekend. "So far, the circuits on which I was competitive last year haven't rewarded me this season. But, in this case, I think I can be effective. We'll have new specs on the front for the occasion, so we'll have to figure it out, even if I think it can work well on my bike," he admitted.
Trying to list what still doesn't add up on the KTM, the 27-year-old explained, "We lack mileage, especially in slow corners, we're forced to arrive with a lot of load on the front, stop, and then restart. This doesn't allow us to go out fast, as we saw in Japan, but also in Misano. This is definitely another issue that needs to be solved, because we're struggling and not going as planned. Plus, in exiting, we rear up too much," he concluded.
Viñales: "I still lack mobility in my shoulder"
On the other side of the garage, Maverick Viñales', there's an air of decent optimism, thanks to his physical improvements following his injury at the Sachsering.
"Now I'm better and have gained in strength, but I still lack mobility. In the race in Japan, I suffered less and, in general, recovery is proving faster than expected. I'm doing everything to make my shoulder work. But I definitely still have limitations, especially in changes in direction and long braking on the left. However, that's no excuse. It should be easier here even if, in terms of temperature and race length, Mandalika, like Buriram, is tough to deal with. But, in the end, it's like that for everyone," he said, analyzing the situation.
Getting back to Motegi, the Iberian rider admitted that he struggled. "We suffered a lot. It felt like the first race of the year. But, here, the asphalt is different, as are the grip and tires. So, first I'll have to regain the old sensations and then improve the bike," he stated.
The flaws that are making the former Aprilia rider less effective are evident. "In Japan, even though it gradually improved, we suffered a lot with bouncing, especially before the last corner and at turn six, which was the fast section. Normally, I don't pay attention to it but, now that I'm injured, I can't ride without suffering."
Finally, when asked how the riders parade in Mataram went, the Spanish rider replied, "I didn't go. I've been training. Last year, it was crazy. People are very passionate, and that's good."