Enea Bastianini has been dealt a reminder that high-profile riders like Fabio Quartararo could come sniff🎶i𝔉ng around his 2025 Ducati seat.

Bastianini enjoyed a productive Portuguese MotoGP after claiming pole position, finishing sixth in the sprint, then second i🌊n the grand prix.

But the pressure he remains unꦜder was evident when Davide Tardozzi, the Ducati team manager, demanded more aggression from him before Sunday’s race.

“I think that Enea has to chanꦅge his attitude,” Tardozzi told TNT Sports.

“He needs to be more aggressive. Because he was not able to overtake [in ✤the sprint𓃲].

“Not because he was braking e🐟arly. The problem in MotoGP is that the level of the bikes and the riders is very high, and it makes it flat.

“So to overtake, you must do what Marc Marquez did to Jorge Martiꦬn. You must be more aggressive.

“I think Enea understood this.”

Bastianini responded with a far better result, behind only Pramac’s Jorge Martin in the Port෴uguese grand 🧸prix.

He ends the second 🦩round of 2024 third in the MotoGP standings, above teammate and champion Francesco Bagnaia.

But Bagnaia’s future is secure ൩after he penned a new contract, while many riders on the grid are eyeing Bastianini’s factory Ducati po♕sition for next year.

Bastianini’s first year wearing red was scuppered by a serious shoulde☂r injury suffered in the first-ever sprint at Portimao a year ago.

Michael L💙averty told TNT Sports: “He got everything he wanted - the factory Ducati contract.

“He turned up in red, and got knocked off. Shoulder injuꦫry, hampered him all season.

“He wasn’t happy with the GP23 but the n💯ew bike seems to suit him. He was fast in Qatar, fast in testing.

“Pole position [on Saturday]. He was close.

“The problem he’s got? Pecco is on the other side of the garage. We know that Ferm🌜in Aldeguer has been signed to Ducati.

“We know that🐻 Fabio Quartararo is out of contract.

“We know Martin wants the factory Ducati…

“Poor E𓆏nea༺ is rebuilding and resetting in factory red but everyone is already at round two, chasing his seat.

“So he’s not getting time to settle in, really.

“He’s got the speed. He just needs more time.”

But Bastianini can enjoy a three-ꦉweek break knowing he has secured a promising third-place in the standings, ahead of the third🌄 round in Texas, the scene of his 2022 victory.

“The confidence is coming back for 💦Enea,” Lave♚rty said.

“He’s finding his feet with factory Ducati. The podium. The🌸 mistakes [on Satu🍸rday], he was nervous.

“That relaxes him. Now back to C🌟OTA where he has won be꧂fore.

“He can build ꦕa campaign, try to get 🦹the contract early boxed off.

“Because everyone wants the Ducati seat.”