Enea Bastianini return date set - but is he still a title contender?
The factory Ducati rider has missed the second and third rounds of the 2023 season, pluᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚಌᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚs the first grand prix.
He was injured in the first-ever sprint race in Portimao when Luca M🥀arini clattered into him.
A broken shoulder blade did not require surgery but has forced Bastianini on꧟to the sidelines for the opening battles 𒐪of the 2023 championship.
He entered the year having earned ཧa step-up from Gresini Racing to Ducati’s factory team after winning the second-most amount of grands prix last 𝓀year.
The relationship, and p🌳otential battle with the title at stake, between new factory teammates Bastianini and the reigning champion Francesco Bagnaꦍia was a key talking point heading into the season.
But when Bastianini returns in Jerez he will find himself with🌞out a single point, and with Marco Bꦺezzecchi leading the pack on 64 points.
The successes of Mooney VR46 duo Bezzecchi and Marini, the rider who accidentally caused Bastianini’s injury, have meant the factoꦦry newcomer has been overlooked as a viable title contender this season.
He will return to find Ducati on top, as expectedℱ, but not in the way that he might have hoped at the start of the season.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, ꦬto football, to F1.
