Much like Luca Marini, Enea Bastianini was also unable to correctly interpret the weather conditions and connect all the dots to pull off a time attack that would have secured him direct entry into Q2. Finishing the day in seventeenth place, the KTM Tech3 rider expressed his frustration at the missed result.
"It went a bit better than expected, and I managed to ride quite well. Honestly, the strategy adopted in the afternoon was not optimal because when I put on the new tyre, the track was not in good condition, it was raining, and there was a strong wind. In particular, in the second and third sectors, I couldn't get into turns 4, 6, and 7. I tried again later, but by then the tyres were worn out, and I set the same time as in the previous attempt. On the one hand, I'm satisfied because Q2 was feasible, but on the other hand, I'm disappointed I wasn't able to get the most out of it," said the Romagna rider.
Although the time attack did not go as he would have liked, Enea promoted some of the new features he tested. "I rode with the new chassis and I think it has good potential, especially in corners. We still lack a bit of grip, as it tends to slide more sideways, but I noticed an improvement in terms of lap times, so I think I'll keep it for the next few days. Overall, it's not 100% yet, but it guarantees some progress. The old one has certainly already shown its full potential, and when I try to do more, I can't," he said.
On a technical level, the new fairing is narrower. This is a feature that is not helping the Rimini rider much. "In reality, it doesn't change much. The data shows that it helps us progress in some ways, but personally, I don't feel any difference," he pointed out.
The unpredictable weather made life difficult for the riders, especially at turn 4. "The wind made the situation critical, a bit like at Silverstone last year, and I couldn't ride well, but we were all in the same boat," he confessed.
In light of all these factors, the outcome of this first Friday of the season in Buriram can only be described as mixed. "Until halfway through the session, I was in 11th position. I was struggling despite meeting Miller in the last sector. I could have done a 1'29.7 at the start, so we're not in a good position, but it's not disastrous either. Unfortunately, today's result doesn't reward us, but it's linked to several causes. I'm still happier than I was during testing when I struggled, but of course it hurts to see ourselves so far behind," he commented, with a hint of hope.
"You can always make up for it. You have to be positive, work hard, and give 100% even if it's difficult to stay focused in certain conditions," he reasoned. "Maybe that's also why I didn't make it to Q2 today, so tomorrow I'll try to do better, having already made several mistakes. I definitely don't feel completely comfortable riding the KTM yet, and I have to accept that, but at certain moments I can ride well. So it's important to find a solution."