Manufacturing unit Ducati rider Enea Bastianini says he doesn’t contemplate 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 consequence 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 provide within the second half of the marketing campaign.
Nevertheless, the Italian doesn’t suppose he will probably be combating for the championship this 12 months, 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,” stated 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 path.
“[The Silverstone win] is an effective 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 Workforce
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
Martin and Bagnaia have certainly been extra recurrently working 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 comparable 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 12 months at Silverstone.
Nevertheless, Bagnaia thinks his team-mate might nonetheless make it a three-way combat for the 2024 title, believing the success in Britain might spur him on within the ultimate 10 rounds of the 12 months.
“He was all the time within the combat,” stated the two-time champion. “He simply must be extra fixed and this consequence can provide him the motivation to all the time be at this degree.
“It is regular that he will probably be combating for the championship till the final races. He’s very quick, he is excellent on used tyres. We all the time have to consider him [in the title battle].”
