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Enea Bastianini is also in the 1m56s club at Sepang and it is excellent news for the Rimini native who, after a difficult year, needed some good news. It came in Malaysia and the Beast seems to have returned bigger and better than ever, ready for a new beginning. “I'm also happy with this third day, we started off on the right foot - he declared - I improved a lot in the flying lap compared to last year and that was important for me, I lapped in 1m56s and if they had told me before getting here I would have replied that it would be impossible. It was a surprise for everyone, it will be a difficult championship but we have built a good starting base."
Three GP24s ahead of everyone, 6 Ducatis in the top 8: do you still have an advantage over your rivals?
“On the flying lap we were very effective, the Desmosedici always makes the difference in the time attack, but in terms of pace our rivals are closer. It's still early to say that it will be a championship between Ducatis, even if it's true that we have taken a step forward with the new bike."
And you?
“I went to Portimao to train with the Panigale and I felt good on the bike, I had fun, so I was already calm. I arrived here at Sepang with the hope of confirming the sensations I had in Valencia on the GP24 and these confirmations arrived. The bike works, I feel good with the team: everything is easier than last year."
Has the understanding with the team also improved?
“That was already there, but when everything goes backwards you struggle to make things work. My team is certainly strong, they never gave up, like me, so we are solid and can fight."
Would you be ready to race tomorrow?
“I'm ready for the first race, but we will also have to try other solutions in Qatar and it will be important to understand how the new bike reacts on another track. For the moment we have approved the 2024 aerodynamic package, we need to have confirmation on the exhaust and other parts, but overall the GP24 is good. In the tests at Losail we will certainly have to look for confirmation of everything we felt here, but the sensations were good. I hope to get there to just fine-tune everything."
What do you like about the new Desmosedici?
“The GP24 works well in all parts of the track, the difference from the 2023 is small, but it's there in every corner and you can see it at the end of the lap. The sensations on the bike have also improved, because the GP23 was not ideal for my riding style and for Martin it was the opposite, it depends from rider to rider."
Have you also solved your engine braking problems?
“Its intervention has changed a bit, now it is more reminiscent of that of the 2021 bike and I am satisfied, but we can still improve. Also today we tried a new electronic strategy, there was progress and we still have to work."
