Recent rounds have seen Enea Bastianini (Gresini Racing Moto3) back to his best, the Italian taking back-to-back poles in Assen and Germany. He was hoping for a dry race but when he awoke on Sunday the heavens had opened and there was no chance of the rain lifting. From pole position he shot forward and took an early lead in the race, putting his past struggles in the wet behind him. After a few laps Bastianini dropped back, but never outside the top five. Having had his pace drop off mid-race, ‘The Beast’ fought back and charged ahead to fight John McPhee (Peugeot MC Saxoprint) for third.
Bastianini won his battle with the Scot and tried to close down Andrea Locatelli (Leopard Racing) for second place but was unable to do so, settling for a safe podium instead. Third place is Bastianini’s second rostrum of the year but his first in the wet. The result also moves him ahead of fellow Italian Niccolo Antonelli (Ongetta-Rivacold) and to sixth in the championship standings. Bastianini is 94 points behind the championship lead, but a top five finish at the end of the season remains a realistic goal.
Enea Bastianini: “It’s been a very nice race, although definitely not easy! In the early laps I immediately found a good feeling with the bike and I enjoyed it, but then later, midway through the race, the rain intensified I started to struggle. The rear wheel was sliding a lot and I took several risks, almost at every lap! Then in the end there was less water on the track, and considering that some riders were pressing me behind my back and I wanted the podium at all costs, I decided to push harder: I found once again a good feeling doing some good laps which helped to maintain the third position with no worries. I’m satisfied because this is my first podium in the wet and it’s certainly a novelty, because in the rain I had never been so strong so far.”