Enea Bastianini is confident as he prepares to tackle the asphalt at the Malaysian GP, on a track where he won last year (on Sunday). The rider, who has his own battle with Marc Marquez for third place in the championship, is ‘free’ to race as he pleases, without thinking about affecting or not the title fight, which is the responsibility of Jorge Martín and Enea Bagnaia.
‘It’s one of my favorite tracks and I have a very good memory of last year because after a difficult period, that victory came. It was very exciting for me,’ the Italian began by saying, before explaining that he wants to try to repeat last year’s result: ‘Every year is different, so there are different variables, however, it’s a circuit that suits my riding style well and where I was also fast in the past. Of course, it’s difficult to repeat that result, but I’m here to try.’
The track layout is favorable to him, with this being a fact that the data proves, as he explained: ‘Probably because one of my strengths is right-hand corners, and also fast right-hand corners. Here we have too much of that and, normally, when we compare the data at that point, I’m much stronger than the other Ducati riders. But never say never, we have to try tomorrow and see if I can be competitive, because every year is different.’
Regarding the championship fight and its influence, Bastianini said he has the green light to do what he wants, while he himself has his own battle and objectives to fulfill:
– Yes, I’m completely free. I also have something to bring home at the end of the season: I can reach third place in the championship and I’m very close to that. Marc Marquez and I, in the last period, have made some mistakes, lost some points, but I need to reduce that small gap to try to fight with him in Valencia.