Ducati Lenovo Team’s newest recruit Enea Bastianini has admitted he’s expecting a “difficult” start to life in the factory squad after losing long-time crew chief Alberto Giribuola to KTM. Instead, The Beast will begin a new relationship with Johann Zarco’s former crew chief Marco Rigamonti.
Giribuola and Bastianini had formed a formidable partnership since first working together during the Italian’s rookie campaign in 2021, scoring a pair of podiums in his debut year before stunning the Grand Prix paddock in 2022 with four sensational victories. The Italian engineer put to good use all of the Ducati experience he gained during his five years alongside Andrea Dovizioso.
However, in a shock move, Giribuola will head to KTM for 2023 and work in a more senior role with both Brad Binder and new signing Jack Miller. That news, understandably, coming to the disappointment of Bastianini, who will see his “really strong bond” with Giribuola broken.
“With all my guys the relationship is really good,” said the former Moto2™ World Champion, whilst speaking to MotoGP™ pitlane reporter Jack Appleyard at the Japanese Grand Prix. “But with Alby [Alberto Giribuola] the bond is really strong. Next year, in the factory team, the spirit will also be really nice, but Alby won’t come with me. Dario [Massarin – Data Engineer] will and I think we can do some really good work, especially with my new crew chief, Riga [Marco Rigamonti]. So I’m excited for next year.
“Marco is a really good person and a good engineer. I think we can do some great work together from the start. The Valencia Test will be crucial to bring some confidence early for me and for him. We haven’t much of a relationship at the moment as we’ve been in two different boxes. I haven’t’ see him too many times but during the winter we will have to make some meetings ahead of the new season.
“With Alby the relationship is really nice and with Riga at the start it will be difficult. I think the work inside the factory team will be different comparted to now at Gresini but we’ll give our 100% to be fully concentrated.
Despite obvious frustration at losing a crucial element to his 2022 success, Bastianini wanted to stress the importance in keeping hold of Dario Massarin, his electronics engineer. Massarin has factory experience, much like Giribuola, with Dovizioso and is widely regarded throughout the paddock as one of the most talented Data Engineers in the MotoGP™ paddock.
“Dario is staying with me and that’s really important. We work hard on the electronics side and it works well every round, so in the future I know we’ll do a good job.”
With Rigamonti moving up to the factory squad with Bastianini, Frenchman Johann Zarco will renew his working relationship with Massimo Branchini. The Italian won back-to-back Moto2™ titles with Zarco in 2015 and 2016, before clinching two further crowns with Remy Gardner and Augusto Fernandez in 2021 and 2022. However, he’ll now step up to the premier class for the first time with Prima Pramac Racing.