Bastianini was rewarded for winning the second-most amount of grands prix in 2022 with a step-up from Gresini to the factory D𓆉ucati team this season, and was expected to vie with new teammate Francesco Bagnaia for the title.

But a major shoulder injury at the o💧pening weekend in Portimao scuppered his hopes.

"There were two critical moments,” he told .

“The recovery from the shoulder injury wo൩rried me a lot. 

“I wasn't able to regain strength, my arm sometimes fꦑell asleep on the bike and it h♏ad never happened to me. 

“Since Barcelona things improved, but I relapsed.

“I sat in the wheelchair for 𒁏20 days, I was very angry, I didn't want to talk to anyone, I didn't want to doඣ anything. 

“I hit rock bottom, but from there everything was easier and it w🐭as nice to be myself again."

During Bastiꦕanini’♐s struggles it was rumoured he could lose his factory seat to Jorge Martin, who was jostling with Bagnaia for the title.

"I must admit that of all things i🐲t is the thing that has made me suffer the least,” Bastianini ไreacted. 

“I have never doubted my♌ abilities, if I am in good shape and enjoying myself. 

“Jorge [had] a wonderful chamജpionship, but I beꦐlieve that without injury I too could have fought for the title. I'll try again next year."

A nightmare debut season in the factory team suddenly e☂xploded into life at Sepang, where Bastianini won his only race of the year to deliver a much-needed reminder of his qualities.

"Intense and unexpected,” he described it. 

“I knew I was back f🐬ast, perhaps to fight for the podium, and instead... the victory arrived. 

“Yes, in the evening we celebrat♕ed, we were all together with the team, we did a 💎bit of karaoke. .. We had fun!”

Oddly Bastianini ♕won in Malaysia a week after starting the Thailaಌnd MotoGP from last on the grid. 

"I know it may sound a bit strange, b🔯ut I almost don't remem꧅ber starting last,” he said. 

“Bꦦecause I didn't have any problems and honestly it was embarrassinꦗg. 

“I realised I had the wrong approach, that there was something wrong with m♏e too. 

“So I went to Malaysia with a different mentality, more deter🐼mined. Awar🅠e that I could do well, also because the race in Thailand didn't go badly."

Bastianini also switched c𝕴rew chiefs this year, and has nꦦow completed a year alongside Marco Rigamonti.

“Even in dif🐷ficulties we have always overcome them,” he said. 

“We haꩵve never argued, we always go in the same💫 direction. 

“Sometimes we got nervous, but we are okay when things don't go well. Now that th๊e victory has arrived the atmosphere is much more relaxed."