Bastianini put toget𒊎her his best performance of the year at Mandalika,🎀 both in terms of finishing position (matched his P8 result from Sachsenring) and outright speed.

Much more consistent than in previous rounds, Basti🍎anini set the fastest lap of the race before going on to finish 12 seconds behind race winner and team-mate Francesco❀ Bagnaia.  

• Maverick Vinales exp꧑lains unusual ‘Batman’ celebration 
• Marquez: Phillip Island 💫‘is something really unique’, scene of 100th podium

“I’m happy about my race but not the result because after the Long Lap, and also the contact with Mꦅarc and Jack൩ out of turn 11 I lost a lot of time,” said Bastianini. 

“I started my progression after only 8-9 laps, but af💦ter that my pace was really good. 

“Iꦏ did the fastest lap of the race but also my pace was quite consistent. At the end of the race I was destroyed. 

“It was possible for me to arrive in the to🦩p five but I wasn’t really focused and stayed here (current position).”

Bastianini rues early contact

🦩Bastianini found himself stuck between Marc Marquez and Jack Miller heading into turn 11, after the pair were held up by Bagnai🍎a on the opening lap.

Speaking about the incident, Bastianini added: “Pecco went very fast into turn ten and Marc had to pick up the bike, but to come back, in turn 11 I was side-by-side with Marc and Jack; I was in the middle and I was unlucky. It was normal contact in t🎉he race.”

Wওhile eighth place was a strong result for the Italian, Bastianini’s pace was perhaps the biggest positive as he set the🍃 fastest lap with just a few laps remaining.

“This is the most important because in that weekend we worked very well from the start,” said Bastianini. “I haven’t modified much of the bike, just the electronics and I tried many laps to not mak🥃e mistakes. 

“In the end, that method worked and we hav🎃e to work like this. I want to see in Phillip Island if we have this control and can confirm that.”