Bastianini Sixth In The Grand Prix Of The Americas. Good Comeback For ‘Diggia’, Close To The Points
Gresini Racing Team Moto3 racer Enea Bastianini crossed the finish line of the Grand Prix of the Americas, third round of the 2016 season, in sixth place: started from the front row, the 18-year-old rider from Rimini struggled to maintain a good pace in the early stages of the race with a full tank and failed to stay with the leading group composed of five riders: Navarro, Fenati, Oettl, Quartararo and Binder, the fastest when lights went out.
Later, midway through the race, Enea battled in the second group, though struggling under braking: this didn’t allow him to set his pace, which was gradually improving approaching the end of the race, crossing the finish line in sixth, a result that gives him 10 points in the Championship.
Bastianini’s team mate, rookie Fabio Di Giannantonio, performed a great comeback from the last row of the grid up to 17th position: a good result for the 17-year-old rider from Rome, who rode a determined race getting his best result of the season and going close to the point-scoring positions.
ENEA BASTIANINI (6th)
“Unfortunately, once again we’ve been very fast in the last part of the race, but we struggled in the early laps. At the moment it seems that we are struggling with the full tank and consequently in the early stages of the race I was not able to push to remain with the other riders in the lead. Then, halfway through the race, I found myself together with some riders who were stronger than me on the brakes: I could not brake as I wanted and the other riders were always overtaking me, breaking my pace. At that point I definitely lost contact with Binder and Quartararo. Too bad, I’m convinced that I had the potential to attack in the final stages of the race, but the races are like that. We need to work to be faster in the first part”.
FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO (17th)
“I’m very happy with my race! Today I was starting from the back of the grid because of a bad Qualifying yesterday, but I started the race determined to recover. It was very nice to battle in the early laps, then at some point I saw that I was catching the group of riders in front of me, with Masbou, Rodrigo and Suzuki, so I tried to make my rhythm with a clear track. I managed to do good lap times, then I reached and passed them. Too bad only that I was not able to pass Masbou in the final lap, but we are in the top 20 for the first time and I’m delighted! We are close to the points, so now I look forward to the upcoming race in Jerez. Finally we go to Europe and I cannot wait to be there!”.
FAUSTO GRESINI
“Bastianini’s race was difficult, no doubt: we will have to try to understand why Enea is struggling to be quick in the early stages of the races, because in the second part he’s able to get some good lap times, like he did today. I’m a bit disappointed, because we know we have a great potential but we are not taking full advantage of it right now. Di Giannantonio rode a great race: after yesterday’s Qualifying he was worried, but today he made a good recovery, improving his lap times. Fabio is making experience and is growing, well done!”.
