Third in the MotoGP standings after two rounds, Enea Bastianini returns to COTA for the f꧙irst time since winning in 2🌳022.

Bastianini’s win in 2022 was the second of four during that season with Gresini Ducati, before beating out Jorge Martin for the factory Ducatiꩲ seat in 2023. 

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“I have good memories from 2022 here in COTA,” said Bastianini♎ ahead of today’s free practice at COTA. “It was fantastic to do a great victory. I missed the grand prix last year because of my injur𓄧y and it was really bad for me.

“But I come here after a gr🦹eat podium in Portimao and also I’m consistent at the moment so let’s see if we can continue in that dire🉐ction.

“I think we have a good set-up in every track which is important. Let’s see if I can be fast this year in COTA. Physically it is one of the most difficult ꧃races.”

Asked about his secrets to success two years ago, Ba🥃stianini admitted it’s important to save energy because of the American circuit's physical nature.

“There is new asphalt this year,” 🦄began Bastianini. “The secret; this track is very physical and if you spend ener✱gy in the first part, then at the end of the race you can’t be very fast.

“It depends on what my condition is and let’s see in the grand prix. I don’t think🔥♚ we have many secrets.”

After finishing second to Ma෴rtin in Portimao, and the crashes for Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia, Bastianini moved into third place in the championship, two points ahe🐓ad of team-mate Bagnaia.

Despite winning the season-opener in 20ꦦ22, Bastianini’s start to 2024 has been even more impressive as his consistency has been bettered by very few rivals.

Hoping to continue that this weekend, Bastianini pointed to ‘⛦the pic💮kup of the bike’ as an area to improve upon.

Bastianini said: “Here in COTA the pickup [of the bike[ is important. I think that for the moment we have to modify this area a bit because in MotoGP the anglꦉe of the bike is very important.

“Especially ꧅in this track it can be the solution to winning.”