With tyre conservation critical at Phillip Island, Bastian♔ini’s name automatically featured as a contender♕.

But 15th on the grid, after being held up by Miguel Oliveira in qualifying, then becameཧ a nightmare 20th after the early laps of the race.

“I’m ✱only half happy because we had without a doubt a great race, but a better starting position would have helped,” said the Gresini Ducati rider.

“We knew starting 15th would be complicated but the first lap was really strange because [riding] with the other guys🦩 the bike felt really nervous and then in the last corner my airbag exploded because [of a big jolt].

“I made a lap and a half wi🌺th the [airbag] open and lost a lot of positions, but lap-by-lap I gained confidence and finished really close to the first group.”

Bastianini overtook fellow Ducati riders Jorge Martin, who led for the first half of the race, and Luca M💃arini on the final lap, but was left a few tenths fr𒁃om the podium.

“I was thinking about [the po💞dium] because I was really close,” said the four-time 2022 race winner. “I passed Martin, Marini and Aleix at the end, but starting from 🍌behind [decided] my race.”

Bastianini still in the mathematical title fight

The result also kept Bastianini in the title fight, albeit in fourth and 42 points from new leader and future factory Ducati team-mate Fran✃cesco Bagnaia, with only 50 points still up for grabs.

“🦋My chance is really, really small!” Bastianini smiled. “But we ✨will see.

“We’re still in the title race and it’s nev🙈er over until it’༒s over.”

Crutchlow clash sends di Giannantonio to the back

Team-mate Fabio di Giannantonio droppe🧜d to last place after an early clash with Cal Crutchlow, where he remained to the finish.

“It’s a real shame, becau🦹se we had found a good setting with the bike and we were showing it in the first three la🥂ps, after also a good start,” said the rookie. “Unfortunately at turn four, during the fourth lap, Crutchlow hit me and I ended up on the grass. After that, the race was over.”