Third i🌼n the MotoGP standings after two rounds, Enea Bastianin🎃i returns to COTA for the first time since winning in 2022.

Bastianini’s win in 2022 was the second of four during that seaℱson with Gresini Ducati, before beating out Jorge Martin for t🍒he factory Ducati seat in 2023. 

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“I have good memories from 2022 here in COTA,” said Basti🐽anini ahead of today’s free practice at COTA. “It was fantastic to do a great victory. I missed the grand prix la෴st year because of my injury and it was really bad for me.

“But I come here after a great pꦍodium in Portimao and also I’m consistent at the moment so let’s see if🍸 we can continue in that direction.

“I think we have🌌 a g🌠ood 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 ab🌃out his secrets to success two years ago, Bastianini admitted it’s importa🐼nt 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 energy in the firsꦅt part, then at the end of the race you can’t be very fast.

“It d💙epends on what my condition is and let’s see in th🎉e grand prix. I don’t think we have many secrets.”

After finishing second to Martin in Portimao, and the crashes for Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia,♛ Bastianini moved into third place in the championship, two points ahead 💞of team-mate Bagnaia.

Despite winning the season-opener in 202🍌2, 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 pickup of the bike’ as ဣan🐼 area to improve upon.

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

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