Enea Bastianini says the “best pick-up ever” very nearly earned him a fourth win of his 2022 MotoGP campaign at Misano, though reckoned his Turn 4 error cost him victory.
The Gresini Ducati pilot charged back towards eventual race winner Francesco Bagnaia in the climactic stages of the San Marino Grand Prix after struggling for grip in the early laps, Bastianini dispatching Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales first of all before rocketing to the rear of Bagnaia’s Desmosedici.
The 2020 Moto2 world champion looked to be enjoying greater rear grip than the factory Ducati pilot’s machine as he looked for a way past, though a mistake at Turn 4 that saw him run slightly wide cost him crucial ground to his countryman on the final cirucaltion.
Despite closing right back onto the rear of Bagnaia through the twisty final sector, Bastianini ultimately came an excruciating 0.034s away from supremacy after earning a far superior exit from the final bend, Bastianini admitting it was ultimately “impossible” to stop Bagnaia’s win streak following his earlier error.
“The first part of the race, especially the first three or four laps was a disaster because it was really difficult to bring temperature to the tyres, and when I saw (Jack) Miller crash I understood it was also a problem for the other guys,” explained Bastianini.
“In the middle of the race I found more confidence and at the end me and Pecco (Bagnaia) made a fantastic pace and we could make a good gap on the other riders.
“On the last lap I tried with all my potential to overtake Pecco but at Turn 4 I went a little bit wide and it was too difficult to close the gap, I tried at the last corner but it was impossible, but I’m really happy with the result.
“I braked really hard (at Turn 4 on final lap) to stay close to Pecco because at Turn 6 my traction wasn’t that good so it was important to stay close, but I made the error and it was impossible to get closer.
“For me the best place to pass was Turn 11 as I was faster there, but also the last sector with a MotoGP bike is impossible to overtake, so it was my unique chance to make it happen but I couldn’t quite do it.
“I had the best pick-up ever (out of final corner) but it was not possible to get the traction I needed to get him, I did the fastest lap on the last lap so it was an incredible race.
“This podium is great for my future because my last one was back at Le Mans, and to be here today is amazing and we have to continue like this.”
