Enea Bastianini experienced significant difficulties following a mid-season crew chief change during the 2025 MotoGP season, which negatively impacted his performance, Tech3 MotoGP team manager Nicolas Goyon revealed. The Italian rider’s struggle to adapt to his new KTM bike and the departure of crew chief Alberto Giribuola contributed to a decline in his race results.
Challenges Faced After Switching Crew Chiefs
Bastianini joined the Tech3 team on KTM machinery last year but encountered a tough season while adjusting from the Ducati bike he rode since his MotoGP debut in 2021. His best finish in the first 10 rounds was seventh place, and he never qualified better than 16th during that period. However, he showed signs of improvement at the Czech Grand Prix by qualifying 11th and finishing third in the sprint race, adding another third-place podium at the Catalan Grand Prix.
Despite the progress, Bastianini’s performance declined once again, coinciding with the exit of his crew chief Alberto Giribuola. Bastianini acknowledged the difficulty of the transition, stating,
“To change [a crew chief] is not always simple,”
and described the mental toll it took on him, saying,
“For me, last year it was complicated, but also I was a bit tired – not physically, but mentally, I dropped a bit in the second part of the season.”
He also admitted,
“After what happened, I was a bit stressed. I don’t know if that compromised my result.”
Tech3’s Take on the Impact of Giribuola’s Departure
Nicolas Goyon, the Tech3 team manager, admitted that the team underestimated the effect Giribuola’s departure would have on Bastianini’s form. He explained the critical role a crew chief plays in MotoGP, emphasizing how they not only manage technical details but also support the rider psychologically.
“Obviously, the crew chief’s job in our world is crucial,”
Goyon said.
“He’s the first one to get the rider’s comments and give the first confidence to the rider.”
Goyon continued,
“Sometimes, some crew chiefs are more on the technical side, but nowadays, the crew chief has to be like a psychologist. He has to help the rider, he has to push him in the difficult moments. I have to say, Giribuola did quite a good job.”
The manager highlighted the challenge Bastianini faced adapting his riding style from Ducati to KTM, noting,
“Enea was struggling strongly at the beginning of the season. He still had the Ducati lines in mind, and to switch from the Ducati to the KTM was difficult for him.”
He added,
“Riding a Ducati was something natural for him. He had to force his riding on the KTM.”
According to Goyon, the team explored different bike set-ups to support Bastianini, but ultimately the adjustment required was on the rider’s side.
“They went over many different set-ups, trying to help him, but in the end, we realised the main job had to come from him. He had to change his riding style.”
Goyon praised the collaboration prior to Giribuola’s departure, saying,
“Clearly, they did a good job until they reached Brno. These four races [between Brno and Barcelona] where everything was great.”
However, when Giribuola left, the team saw a downturn in results.
“Unfortunately, what happened happened, and Giribuola decided to part ways. And it’s true that Enea took it really badly.”
He further remarked on Bastianini’s sensitive nature,
“Yes, when Giribuola left, the results started to drop. Enea is a sensitive rider, so we have to take care of him. We tried as a team to avoid this change, but he was really decided.”
New Partnerships for the 2026 Season
Following his departure from Tech3, Alberto Giribuola joined the Pramac team to support Toprak Razgatlioglu during his rookie MotoGP season. Meanwhile, Enea Bastianini has been assigned a new crew chief, Andres Madrid, who previously worked with Brad Binder. Binder himself will be collaborating with Phil Marron, the former crew chief of Razgatlioglu in World Superbike, highlighting significant crew chief reshuffling ahead of the 2026 season.
The changes indicate an effort by the Tech3 team and Bastianini to stabilize and improve their relationship, which is crucial for future success given the rider’s sensitivity and past struggles adapting to KTM’s equipment under different leadership.
