Bastianini: “Now we are competitive”

A glorious return to pole position for Enea Bastianini, proving the Italian hasn’t lost his speed after a rough start to 2016.

Thanks to a well-timed flying lap, Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) will start from pole position for the first time in 2016. This is the first time the Italian has taken back-to-back poles at a circuit, starting the 2015 Dutch GP from pole as well. In 2015 his pole came thanks to a 1’41.283, in 2016 a 1’42.463 was enough due to the conditions. If it remains dry Bastianini is confident he can battle for victory thanks to more stability through the fast sections on track, but if the rain comes he believes it will be a much closer battle.

In 2015 Bastianini’s pole saw him in contention for victory for the entirety of the race, eventually crossing the line in sixth after some hard moves on the last laps. Bastianini was the last rider to win a Moto3™ World Championship race from pole, back at Misano in 2015. Can the Italian return to winning ways and break the pole curse?

Enea Bastianini: “I’m very happy because this is the first pole position of the season, further proof that we have grown and that now we are competitive. Both yesterday and this morning we struggled to find a set-up that would make the bike more stable, then we have succeeded: now I can be more effective in the fast sections of the track. It won’t be easy if it will rain tomorrow, because I’m not a specialist in the wet but if the track will be dry, I’m convinced that we can have a great race!”