Enea Bastianini: “Francesco Bagnaia my first opponent - Marc Marquez is the favourite for the title”
Bastianini’s promotion from Gresini Racing to the factory Ducati team is a notable change in the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:2023 MotoGP rider line-up.
Francesco Bagnaia, who brought Ducati their first MotoGP title since 2007 and Italy their first champion since 2009, is making his maiden defence but, on the other side of the same garage, teammate Bastianini w🌞ill bဣe eyeing the top prize for himself.
"Theꦚre is rivalry, but first and foremost friendship," Bastianini told La Re𒁏pubblica.
"We've known each other since we were kid༒s, and for the first time we're on the same team.
“I respect hi♚m, I will have a lot to learn. But he will be my first opponent.
“Did they applaud me more in Bologna than him? Bagnaia also has m🌃any fans. I think many people like me because I want to excite people, to cꦅonvey what I feel: without looking too much at the form.
“In an era that doesn't allow you too much to be yourself, I try anyway. An old-school guy: instinctive, few calculations and a lot of passion. I would like MotoGP to return to ♕certain battles: if it were for me, racing would only be hand-to-hand."
The past three seasons have seen Joan Mir, 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Fabio Quartararo and Bagnaia win their first championships and they will return to battle seeking to claim glory again, along with the likes of Bastianini wh🏅o hopes that new machinery can boost him.
But 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Marc Marquez remains an ominous presence.
The six-time premier clas♛s champion must overcome his own injury-plagued past and the limitations of his Repsol Honda bike if he to sustain a challenge, but Bastiꩲanini expects him to do so.
"Just look at the num♏bers, Marc won more than anyone,” Bastianini said.
“This year he will be the great protagonist, the favourite. I'm sure we'll seeಌ a champion in top form, and it will be a pleasure to challenge him."
Bastianini said about facing riders from theꦗ VR46 stable: "Beating his riders for me is the same as beating others, no more and no less. At the Ranch of Tavullia I went 5-6 times, the relations are good and they would have wanted me with the VR46: but I chose Gresini. Maybe it was a risk, it paid off."
James 🔯was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
