Enea Bastianini: “Francesco Bagnaia my first opponent - Marc Marquez is the favourite for the title”
Bastianini’s promotion from Gresini Racing to the factory Ducati team is a notable change in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:2023 MotoGP rider line-up.
Francesco Bagnaia, who brought Ducati their first MotoGP title since 2007 and Italy their first champion since 2009, is making his maiden defence but, on the other s♎ide of the same garage, teamma🎉te Bastianini will be eyeing the top prize for himself.
"There is ꩵrivalry,🦄 but first and foremost friendship," Bastianini told La Repubblica.
"We've known each other since we were kids, and for the first time we're on the same𓃲 team.
“I ⛄respect him, I will ♛have a lot to learn. But he will be my first opponent.
“Did they applaud me mo꧑re in Bologna than him? Bagnaia also has many fans. I think many people like me because I want to excite people, to convey what I feel: without looking too much at the form.
“In an era that doesn't aꦡllow you too much to be y🔜ourself, I try anyway. An old-school guy: instinctive, few calculations and a lot of passion. I would like MotoGP to return to certain battles: if it were for me, racing would only be hand-to-hand."
The past three seasons have seen Joan Mir, 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fabio Quartararo and Bagnaia win their first championships and they will return to battle seeking to claim glory again, along with the likes of Bastianini who hopes that new machinery ꦦcan boost him.
But 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Marc Marquez remains an ominous presence.
❀The six-time premier class champion must overcome his own injury-plagued past aཧnd the limitations of his Repsol Honda bike if he to sustain a challenge, but Bastianini expects him to do so.
"Just look🧸 at the numbers, Marc won more than anyone,” Bastianini𓆉 said.
“This year he will🌼 be the great pr𝓡otagonist, the favourite. I'm sure we'll see a champion in top form, and it will be a pleasure to challenge him."
Bastianini said about facing r൲iders from the VR46 stable: "Beating his riders for me is the same as beating others, no more and no less. At the Ranch of Tavullia I went 5-6 times, the relations are good and they would have wanted me with the VR46: but I chose Gresini. Maybe it was a risk, it paid o🐻ff."
Jameꦯs was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything 🐭from American sports, to football, to F1.
