Bastianini was rewarded for winning the secꦿond-most amount of grands prix in 2022 with a step-up from Gresini to the factory Ducati team this season, and was e🥃xpected to vie with new teammate Francesco Bagnaia for the title.

But a major shoulder injury at the opening weekend in Portimao scuppered hi෴༒s hopes.

"There were two critical moments,” he told .

“The recovery from the shoulder injury 🃏worried me a lot.&n💟bsp;

“I wasn't able to regain strength, my arm sometimes fell asleep on the♒ bike and it had n🍸ever happened to me. 

“Since Barcelona things improved, but I relapsed.

“I sat in the wheelchair f🎃or 20 days, I was very angry, I didn't꧟ want to talk to anyone, I didn't want to do anything. 

“I hit rock bottom, but froℱm there everything was easier and it was nice to be myself again."

During Bastianini’s struggles it wa⭕s rumoured he could lose his factory seat to Jorge M💫artin, who was jostling with Bagnaia for the title.

"I must admit that of all things✃ it is the thing that has 🀅made me suffer the least,” Bastianini reacted. 

“I have never doubted my abilities, if I am in good shaᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚpe and enjoying myself. 

“Jorge [had] a wonderful championꦜship, but I bel𒈔ieve that without injury I too could have fought for the title. I'll try again next year."

A nightmare debut season in the factory team 💖suddenly exploded into life at Sepang, where Bastianini won his only race of the year to deli🅠ver a much-needed reminder of his qualities.

"Intense and unexpected,” he described it. 

“I knew I was back fast, perhaps t𒆙o fight for the podium, and instead... the victory arrived. 

“Yes, in the evening we celebrated, we were all together with the team, we did a bit of karaoke. .. ꦛWe had fun!”

Oddly Bastianini won in Malaysia a week afꦕter starting the Thailand MotoGP from last on the grid. 

"I know it may sound a bit strange, but I almost don't remem🍷ber starting last,” he said.&n🤪bsp;

“Because I didn't have any problems and honestly it was embarrassಌing. 

“I realised I had the wrong approach, that there was something wrong with me too.&nbs♍p;

“So I went to 𝄹Malaysia with a different mentality, more determined. Aware that I could do well, also because the race in Thailand d𓃲idn't go badly."

Bastianini also switched crew chiefs this year, �ꦍ�and has now completed a year alongside Marco Rigamonti.

“Even in diffi꧋culties we have always overcome them,” he said. 

“We 💞have never argued, we always go in th♋e same direction. 

“Sometimes we got nervous, but we are okay when things don't go wel♏l. Now that the victory has arrived the atmosphere is much more relaxed."