Manufacturing unit Ducati rider Enea Bastianini says he doesn’t think about himself a contender within the 2024 MotoGP title battle regardless of scoring a double victory within the British Grand Prix final weekend.
Bastianini pulled off his finest efficiency in years to win each the dash and the principle race at Silverstone, comfortably outgunning team-mate Francesco Bagnaia and Pramac rival Jorge Martin.
The end result elevated him forward of Gresini’s Marc Marquez and into third place within the title standings, simply 49 factors behind championship chief Martin with 370 factors on supply within the second half of the marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, the Italian doesn’t suppose he can be combating for the championship this yr, as he feels he lacks the consistency required to mount a sustained title problem.
“For the second, I do not suppose I am a title contender as a result of Pecco and Jorge have demonstrated extra fixed [speed] in comparison with me in each race. These two riders are on high,” mentioned the 26-year-old, who has now received six grands prix in his MotoGP profession.
“With me, generally I felt one thing [lacking] or I am behind [them on track]. If I wish to be a title contender, I’ve to enhance in that route.
“[The Silverstone win] is an efficient level of begin, however I wish to proceed like this for the remainder of the championship. If on the finish of the championship I’ve this chance, [then] let’s examine what occurs.”
Enea Bastianini, Ducati Group
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
Martin and Bagnaia have certainly been extra repeatedly operating on the entrance than Bastianini within the opening half of the season.
Counting solely the grands prix the place he reached the end, Martin stood on the rostrum in all however one race – the Americas GP in April. The story is analogous for Bagnaia, who completed fifth on the Austin occasion however was on the podium at each different occasion the place he noticed the chequered flag.
Bastianini, however, managed simply 4 podiums from 9 races previous to his maiden victory of the yr at Silverstone.
Nonetheless, Bagnaia thinks his team-mate may nonetheless make it a three-way struggle for the 2024 title, believing the success in Britain may spur him on within the last 10 rounds of the yr.
“He was at all times within the struggle,” mentioned the two-time champion. “He simply must be extra fixed and this end result may give him the motivation to at all times be at this stage.
“It is regular that he can be combating for the championship till the final races. He’s very quick, he is superb on used tyres. We at all times have to consider him [in the title battle].”
