Enea Bastianini’s victory in the Malaysian MotoGP was one of the season’s biggest surprises after failing to break the top six all year.
While manufactures like to talk about constant progress and modest changes in every area adding up to a lap time difference, Bastianini’s form alteration suggested something more dramatic.
Bastianini earned the factory ride after winning four 2022 races with the GP21 at Gresini. However, as he advanced two years to the most recent GP23, the Italian battled with engine braking on corner entry.
“I know one of the strongest points of last year’s bike [corner entry], and we have lost this strongest point this year from my side. But if you check Jorge Martin you see he’s the strongest. It depends on the riding style,” Bastianini explained.
“Me and Pecco, we have a different style but are closer compared to Jorge or another rider.
“I tried to do some modifications to the bike but it’s important to adapt to the bike. It’s DNA is this one and I accepted [the need] to change my riding style for this bike, for this year. For the next one we have to come back with something different to be stronger.”
Bastianini wasn’t exactly sure of the cause of the problem. “My feeling is coming from the engine brake… [But] we have changed engine brake many times and nothing has changed.
“For me, it’s the [2023] engine which is a bit different. The rest of the bike is really, really similar to last year. But the engineers said they prefer me (to use) this one.
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