Malaysian MotoGP: Enea Bastianini: Francesco Bagnaia pit board message changed nothing; ‘I tried to win’

Despite knowing an overtake on Francesco Bagnaia could play a big role as to whether the Italian won the MotoGP title in Sepang or not, Enea Bastianini says that and a pit board message on lap 12 from his team changed nothing.
Enea Bastianini, Ducati MotoGP Sepang
Enea Bastianini, Ducati MotoGP Sepang

Keen to stop Bagnaia from winning and instead take home a fifth MotoGP win of the season, Bastianiniꦦ began to line up a move on the series leader during the fina꧑l lap.

After having already overtook Bagnaia earlier in t🦩he race, Bastianini then had to take avoiding action after nearly running into the rear of Bagnaia at turn nine, which led to the Gres𒐪ini Ducati rider going slightly wide mid-corner. 

Bastianini’s one and only successful overtake on Bagnaia came at turn four shortly after race leader 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Jorge Martin crashed out on lap five. 

Speaking about his strategy, Bastianini said: “When I saw this [crash for Martin] I understood th𓆏ꦫat it’s my moment and I tried to go in front. I overtook Pecco in turn number 4 and then tried to manage the tyre in the best way possible but after two or three laps something changed. 

“Especially on the right side it was impossible for me to be fast in the middle of the corner and ꩵmy exit was a disaster. 

“After that, Pecco caught me again and passed me. Then I tried to be🔯 close all the race with him but in the last lap it was impossible to attack him.”

While Bastianini was never able to respond when Ba🧔gnaia came back through with seven lap🃏s remaining, it didn’t stop the Italian from riding very closely to Ducati’s potential first MotoGP champion since 2007.

In fact, when Bastianini was leading his own team made sure to alert him that Bagnaia was the rider behind, however, it didn’t stop Bastianini from wanting to wi🎐n the race. 

“I see the board all the time, every lap, if I don’t crash,” said Bastianini. “I tried to do the maximum and when I saw this on the board I knew I had to꧃ be careful because I repeat again, for Ducati it is important [to win] the title but I tried to win today.” 

When pushed furthe𓃲r on the matter and whether the pit board message stopped him from trying to overtake Bagnaia on the final lap, Bastianini swiftly shut🌸 down the question by saying: “No!”

For Bagnaia, his victory in Sepang takes him to win number seven on the year, while also leading to an increased championship lead of 23 points over 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fabio Quartararo.

Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP race, Malaysian MotoGP, 23 October
Francesco Bagnaia, MotoGP race, Malaysian MotoGP, 23 October

Bagꦛnaia’s race win was made possible after a stunning start which saw him go from ninth to second in just two corners.

With one hand on the trophy, Bagnaia said: "The reflex at the lights was really great but also the first braking I risked a lꦜot🌳 to be in the front. 

"This helped me a lot in the fight for the win. Then, Jorge was with an incredible pace but from the start he was forcing a ಞlot. After two laps following him I just relaxed a bit because [his pace] was too much. 

"When he crashed I just tried to manage the tyres. Enea was also forcing a lot and it was one of the hardest parts of the race when he overtook me. It was quite difficult to follow him at the start because he was with more ✱traction in fast corner - I was with more tractioܫn in slow corners but I was braking so hard. 

"I think that t🍒he braking was the thing that helped me win the race today. Fabio was third today so the win was the only possibility."

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