Enea Bastianini return date set - but is he still a title contender?
The factory Ducati rider has missed the seco💮nd and third rounds of the 2023 season, plus the first grand prix.
He was injured in the first-ever sprint race in Portimao when Lu🌟ca Maౠrini clattered into him.
A broken shoulder 🃏blade did not require surgery but has forced Basti🌱anini onto the sidelines for the opening battles of the 2023 championship.
He entered the year having earned 💎a step-up from Gresini Racing to Ducati’s factory team after winn♋ing the second-most amount of grands prix last year.
The relationship, and potential battle with the title at stake, between new factory teammates Bastianini and the reigning cham⛦pion Francesco Bagnaia was a key talking point heading into the season.
But when Bastianini returns in Jerez he will find himself without a single point, and with Marco Bezzecchi leading🃏 the pack on 64 points.
The successes of Mooney VR46 duo Bezzecchi 🌱and Marini, the rider who accidentally caused Bastianini’s injury, have meant the factory newcomer has been overlooked as a viable title contender this ♔season.
He will return to find Ducati on top, as expected, but not in the way that h🎶e might have 🌠hoped at the start of the season.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade cജovering everything🅷 from American sports, to football, to F1.
