Enea Bastianini has respoꦓndꩲed to scrutiny over his future with a superb start to the year.

Fifth iౠn the Qatar grand prix then second in Portugal and third in America means Bastianini is even out-perfor🐼ming teammate Francesco Bagnaia after three rounds.

Factory Ducati rider Bastianini finds🐼 himself second in the MotoGP standiꦅngs, 21 points off leader Jorge Martin.

“Nice to see Enea. He aꦬlways comes forwards. That is his forte,” Michael Laverty analysed on TNT Sports after the Americas MotoGP.

“He is strong, he manages his tyres well.

“To pass Pecco, his teammate, on the same🐻 machinery on the final laps, and to do it with🏅 typical aggression? Enea is not scared of a lunge up the inside of Pecco.

“It was goodღ to see from Enea. He’s getting himself back into proper contention within the factജory Ducati colours.

“Because everyone is after his seatꦬ for next year…

“Look at Bastianini and you thꩲink he’s been under-the-radar. But he’s in contention.

“Martin finishing fourth, that’s good for [Bastianini’s] ti🅰tle aspirations.

“It iꦜs a very long gam✅e. There are so many contenders.

“We haven’t w♛hittled it down. There are still five or six.”

Bastianiꩵni won the sꦐecond-most amount of grands prix, behind champion Bagnaia in 2022 while a Gresini rider.

He edged Pramac’s Martin to the facto🌟ry ride bu✱t his 2023 was scuppered by injury.

Meanwhile, Martin took the title fight to the final round and has demanded to be given Bastianini’s bike next ✱year.

But Bastianini, finally fit af♕ter his serious shoulder🧸 problem, is emerging as a title contender himself this season.

“He is happy with his shoulder,” Laverty said.

“This is the most physical track on the shoulders. He’s got that answered, and he’s got the solution ♐with𝔉 his bike.

“He’s got the feeling back with the front end. “The GP24 suits him. Heꦜ’ไs got consistency.

“Second-plaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚce in the championship, he’s got confidence growing and building.

“It’s a podium꧑ at the right time 🌸as we head back to Europe.”