KTM is flying high in Barcelona, where Pedro Acosta set the pace in pre-qualifying, clocking the fastest time ahead of Alex Marquez’s Ducati and his teammate, Brad Binder. Besides confirming the RC16’s competitiveness on the Catalan track, the strong performances by the two factory riders from Mattigofen only amplify Enea Bastianini's disappointment, since he's the first rider who didn't directly enter the Q2.
Despite spending most of the day in the top positions, the rider from Romagna failed to finish in the top ten during Friday’s most important session and will now face the first qualifying phase alongside riders of the caliber of Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin.
“I was in the top five this morning and remained there all afternoon, but then I finished eleventh, just like at Le Mans. There’s definitely some regret, especially because I never managed to get through the first corner cleanly and always ended up a bit wide. That was today’s problem. All my corner entries weren’t great, and the data shows I don’t have much confidence,” Enea admitted. “But I was fast, and the pace was good even on worn tires. The KTM works well here, and you can see that. Obviously, I’m disappointed not to be in the Q2, but I’m feeling positive about tomorrow.”
Snagging one of the two spots that lead to the Q2 won’t be the easiest task, but Bastianini has no doubts about his potential.
“There are a lot of competitive riders, but I’m sure we’ll make it tomorrow. We have a good foundation, but today [the Q2] slipped away from me ,” the Tech3 rider said. “Could my feelings change tomorrow with the sun? I think so. Today we were all actually going slow, so I think we can improve. I think the track surface could improve too, since the track gets worse every year.”
The new fairing brought by the Austrian manufacturer also makes the RC16 more effective in Catalonia.
“I like it coming out of corners, and I also like the way it reacts. Just as I imagined, it works a little better, and I like it, but it obviously makes a slightly bigger difference on a track like Le Mans, where we have more ‘issues’ with rearing up, compared to here in Barcelona,” he noted.
The rider from Rimini, however, remained much more cryptic regarding his future and didn't want to outright say whether or not he already signed a contract for next season.
“Let’s just say that, as I already mentioned, it was important to take some time to decide, and I’ve reached my conclusion, but we’ll see,” he concluded.