Enea Bastianini experienced a challenging weekend at the Buriram MotoGP, where ongoing issues with his KTM Tech3 RC16 hampered his performance. Despite starting 20th on the grid, Bastianini managed to finish 12th but was clearly unsettled by persistent problems with the bike’s stability, particularly on the straights.
Persistent Shaking on the Straights Causes Major Setbacks
Bastianini openly admitted the difficulty he encountered, revealing,
“The truth is that I really struggled on the straights because the bike was shaking a lot, and I had to try different things to compensate,”
highlighting how the instability disrupted his rhythm during the race.
The problem had started to appear earlier during the weekend. Bastianini added,
“I had already started to suffer from these movements yesterday, and we couldn’t figure out why. It could be due to the wind and the heat, but I don’t know. Certainly, on the straights, as soon as I shifted into fifth gear, I had to close the throttle.”
He described how managing the bike became especially complicated when riding behind other competitors, saying,
“It was difficult to manage, especially when I was in the slipstream of the others, but compared to Saturday, we took a small step forward.”
However, he noted his struggle intensified with rising temperatures:
“I felt pretty good, but when the temperature rises, I struggle and can’t get a good response from the bike. It was a more difficult race than I expected.”
Small Victories Amid Tough Circumstances
Despite the issues, Bastianini found some positives in his performance, explaining,
“At least I managed to keep my pace until the end. I only increased it in the last 5 or 6 laps, but at least I finished in a position that was, if not acceptable, almost acceptable.”
Technical Difficulties Rooted in Turbulence and Testing Symptoms
The rider went on to elaborate on the technical concerns, indicating they first appeared during testing and worsened as the weekend progressed:
“It had appeared in testing and also on Friday, but since yesterday it has been really difficult, especially when I had a lot of riders in front of me. Clearly, the turbulence is a nuisance.”
Shared Challenges Among Riders, But Bastianini Among Those Hardest Hit
Bastianini noted that while other riders experienced similar problems, he found the effects more severe:
“Acosta and Binder seem to be suffering less than me and Vinales. I talked about it a bit with Pedro this morning. Maybe he feels it too, but less so. It’s a shame I couldn’t get myself sorted out, but it was really tough for me.”
Implications for Bastianini and KTM Tech3 Moving Forward
This difficult weekend underscores ongoing hurdles for Bastianini as he continues to adapt to the KTM Tech3 machine. The bike’s instability, particularly under certain track conditions and heat, raises questions about development priorities ahead, as the rider seeks better harmony with his equipment. Overcoming these technical issues will be crucial for Bastianini’s competitiveness and consistency in upcoming races. His ability to maintain pace despite adversity shows resilience, but resolving the shaking problem remains vital for future success.
