Ducati General Manager Gigi Dall’Igna labelled Enea Bastianini’s podium at MotoGP’s Americas Grand Prix as an “essential step” in determining the rider’s future.
Bastianini’s current contract expires at the end of 2024 but he is hoping to remain with the team after a difficult spell with injuries last term derailed his campaign.
The Italian earned the chance with the factory outfit having won four races in 2022 with Gresini Ducati, which placed him as high as third in the Riders’ Championship.
Bastianini has returned towards that level in the nascent stages of 2024 as the ex-Moto2 champion followed up second place in Portimao with third place in Austin.
Dall’Igna has praised the recent efforts from Bastianini, who finished as the lead Ducati thanks to a late overtake on Pramac’s Jorge Martin to earn his rostrum spot.
“It was a long and gripping race, lively and vibrant, on a track that is most demanding in physical terms,” Dall’Igna told Autosport.
“Many duels and much overtaking that saw us as protagonists in a no-holds-barred contest marked by tracts of chiaroscuro, lights and shadows.
“For Enea this is an important podium, confirming that he is among the key figures on the track, race after race, with a constancy that he is gradually regaining.
“His was the first Ducati under the chequered flag, with a finish that reached a crescendo after a tentative start, now placing him second in the World Championship standings.
“What he needed was greater continuity, and this is another essential step in the right direction.”
Fellow Ducati riders Francesco Bagnaia and Martin both suffered from chatter problems during the race, which has been a reoccurring problem for the marque.
The Italian manufacturer is bidding to solve these problems with a private test with test rider Michele Pirro in the lead-up to the Spanish Grand Prix next weekend.
“The championship is long and difficult, and there will be no shortage of ups and downs for everyone,” he added.
“We have to give of our best to provide our riders with the chance to express their top performance.
“That’s why the next test with Michele in Barcelona will be of great importance: there we will be testing some changes to the bike’s set-up, to then be reconfirmed with the factory riders during the tests scheduled for the day following the Jerez Grand Prix.”
Dall’Igna also commended Gresini’s Marc Marquez for leading the Americas GP before his brake problem-induced crash ended his hopes of a memorable win.
“Even though he crashed, Marc proved to be an extraordinary interpreter of the race, even taking the lead and this says a lot about his skull and experience as well as his determination and enthusiasm,” he said.
