Enea Bastianini (KTM/8th): “It keeps happening with Franco!”

Team principal Günther Steiner and his crew at Red Bull Tech 3 KTM had reason to celebrate at the start of the MotoGP season in Assen on Friday. The reason: Enea Bastianini managed to improve his time in the frantic final stages of the afternoon qualifying session, securing 8th place and a direct place in Q2 on Saturday. The 28-year-old from Rimini was thus clearly faster than his team-mate Maverick Viñales, who had been languishing at the back of the field until shortly before the end.

“It’s a surprise. At first, I couldn’t get to grips with the used front tyre at all. I then tried the second bike as well. My feeling was really poor. But when we fitted the new front tyre, I was able to push again and knew from that moment that I could make it straight into Q2. I managed to set the time during my final flying lap. That obviously makes the weekend a lot less complicated now,” said Bastianini.

‘La Bestia’ went on to say: ‘The grip was significantly worse in the afternoon. At first, with a new rear tyre, I was 2.2 seconds slower than in the morning – that was really strange – after all, the tyre was new.’ The Italian knows from experience and hopes: “We don’t normally have problems like that. We’ll definitely have to give it another go first thing tomorrow morning with a used front tyre.”

Speaking of attempts. During a lap in pursuit of a fast time ahead of the final race, Bastianini was already well on his way, but was then blocked at the start of the final sector by VR46-Ducati rider Franco Morbidelli, who was cruising right at the apex of the ideal line. Bastianini, who even had to ride a little way onto the grass, said: “Yes – he was right in the middle of the ideal line – that’s it. I’m obviously not happy about it. It keeps happening with Franco. He rides in the middle of the track when someone’s coming up from behind. What can I say – that’s Franco for you.”

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11.09.2026 - 08:55