MotoGP Le Mans: ’Stay calm, understand and win’ - Bastianini

Enea Bastianini overcame a difficult weekend to triumph in the French GP after three crashes on his Gresini GP21.

Unsure of his pace and potential in the 27-lap race after a weekend littered with technical and tyre troubles, Bastianini bided his time and utilised his now-infamous late-race pace to capture first the podium then the victory at Le Mans. Ducati’s factory rider Pecco Bagnaia succumbing initially to his fellow Italian before crashing out at Raccordement five corners later.

“Very difficult race especially for me because I crashed for three times in this weekend,” Bastianini admitted from Parc Fermé. “Every time with the soft on the front because for me, was too soft this choice but in the race with the medium has been always better. Has been possible for me to battle for the podium and after, I win.

“Is not simple because Pecco was really fast. He brake very, very late, but I think I make him nervous when I overtaking him in the first sector and after he has committed an error after five/six corners and at the end stay fantastic for me to win today. The team have made really good work because we have put three bikes new in the weekend and I’m really satisfied for the guys because they are fantastic.”

With his latest crash coming during Sunday’s morning warm-up, Bastianini headed into the race a little apprehensive from fifth on the grid. His lightning quick start, however, brought him immediately into contention before a brief battle with Suzuki’s Alex Rins - with the Spaniard unlucky to crash out after just two laps.

“My strategy today was to stay calm on the first part of the race, to understand better what was my objective, because when I start the race, I wasn’t really confident to be fast,” the Italian