MotoGP Misano: Bastianini ‘prepared for special race’

Gresini’s Enea Bastianini followed up his Austrian MotoGP pole with a front row start at home for the San Marino Grand Prix.

While the pressure may be off regarding his place in the factory Ducati team for 2023, the home race for both himself and his team is proving quite the occasion for the Rimini-born rider. Claiming third in Saturday’s qualifying session, just a tenth adrift of the factory duo of Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia, the latter’s demotion to fifth will see the 24-year-old line up in the middle of the front row come Sunday.

“Yeah, I’m really satisfied about my qualifying of today,” Bastianini confirmed from the Misano World Circuito Marco Simoncelli. “We are starting good from Friday and also today we made a good step on the FP4.

“I was confident in the qualifying to do a great job but start the qualifying, it start to rain and the track was really, really dangerous, especially in the first and the second lap.

“But after many laps the track is coming better. In the last lap I push a lot to do all my best and it arrive this third position for tomorrow.”

Last year saw two races at the Misano Circuit, with Bastianini storming to the podium on both occasions, despite his rookie season, a two year old machine and a poor start in both.

“I remember a lot the races of last year, especially the second one,” the Italian reflected. “I’m starting from the 18th position I think and I’m arrive in third. But I think also tomorrow will be really difficult to battle for the podium. I think we are prepared to do a great race and I have already to learn something from Jack because in the sector four he is really fast. I think we have to see the data but I think we are prepared to do the maximum

“I try to win tomorrow also for