Enea Bastianini has responde♉d to scrutiny over his future with a superb start to the year.

Fifth in the Qatar gran🌺d prix then second in Portugal and third in America means Bastianini is even out-performing teammate Francesco Bagnaia after three rounds.

Fact♍ory D🐽ucati rider Bastianini finds himself second in the MotoGP standings, 21 points off leader Jorge Martin.

“Nice to see Enea. He always comes forwards. Thatꦚ is his forte,” Michael Laverty analysed on TNT Sports after the Americas MotoGP.

“He is strong, he manages his tyres well.

“To😼 pass Peccꩵo, his teammate, on the same machinery on the final laps, and to do it with typical aggression? Enea is not scared of a lunge up the inside of Pecco.

“It was good to see from Eneꦕa. He’s getting himself back into proper contention within the factory Ducati colours.

“Because everyone is after his seat for next y𓆉ear…

“Look at Bastia♌nini and you think he’s been under-the-radar. But he’s in contention.

“Martin finishing fourth, that🔴’s good for [Bastianini’s] title aspirꩵations.

“I🀅t is a very long game. There are so🔯 many contenders.

“We haven’t whittled i🧸t down. There are still five or six.”

Bastianini won the second-most amount of grands 🐼prix, behind champion Bagnaia in 2022 while a Gr💯esini rider.

He edged Pramac’s Martin to the factory ride bu🤡t his 2023 was sc𝔍uppered by injury.

Meanwhile, Martin took the title fight to the fin🃏al round and has demanded to be given Bastianini’s bike next year.

But Bastianini, finally fit after his serious shoulder problem, is emerging as a title contender🐬 himself this season.

“He is happy with his shoulder,” Laverty said.

“This is the most physical track on the shoulders. He’s got that answered, and h🤪e’s got the solution with his bike.

“He’s got the feeling back with the front end. “The GP24 🔥suits him. He’s got consistency.

“S𝓡econd-place in the championship, he’s got confidence꧑ growing and building.

“It’s a podium at the right tꦉime as we🍒 head back to Europe.”