Seventh at the checkered flag, Enea Bastianini ended the Malaysia weekend with a half-smile. While on the one hand the improving performance reassured him, on the other hand the problems in the qualifying phase prevented him from expressing himself to the full as he was forced in the Sprint, as in the GP, to make a comeback to at least get into the top ten.
"I have to say that we improved a lot. On Friday I was very angry because whatever I did on the bike did not go well, but then we worked on it and with some drastic changes we were able to solve the problems. Today we were as fast as we had been in the Sprint. In the warm up itself I was competitive, in fact I would call it the best I have done so far, so we worked well. I hope to take this package with me to the other tracks. If there is a need to make so many changes it means that we still don't have a solid base to rely on," was his immediate post-race reflection.
So many are the critical issues the former Ducati rider is facing now that he finds himself defending the colors of the Tech3 team. "The most difficult thing is to modify my style a lot every race weekend and adapt it to the needs of the bike now.The KTM needs a peculiar riding style, but more was needed here and the work on riding was not enough, so we modified the geometry a lot and managed to be effective. I hope that the next race will allow me not to have to intervene so much," he said.
Despite the critical issues, today's performance was positive. "Today the grip was a little bit different and thanks to better rear end management it went well. I expected a bigger slump in the last three to four laps and instead we were consistent. So we learned something in that respect as well," he explained.
Between now and the end of the season, the target is clear. "The goal for the last few rounds is to find some consistency. I would like to have more confidence and a solid base to rely on ahead of next year when I know several things will change from a technical standpoint. It remains to be seen. We will definitely have to work with a view to starting a little further ahead," he stated his intention.
While on the one hand seeing Acosta on the podium is motivating, on the other it bothers even a measured and diplomatic rider like the Romagna native. "It does my head in a bit, but if he was able to do it, it means that the bike has a top 3 level. My pace was good, but even today I started 19th and it's normal to be upset," he confided.