Being top MotoGP rookie in Qatar test “not important” – Bastianini
Reigning Moto2 world champion and Avintia Ducati rider Enea Bastianini says it was “not that important” to be the fastest MotoGP rookie after the first Qatar test.

Reigning Moto2 world champion and Avintia Ducati rider Enea Bastianini says it was “not that important” to be the fastest MotoGP rookie after the first Qatar test.
Bastianini steps up to the premier class this season with Ducati and Avintia, joining Moto2 runner-up Luca Marini, Pramac’s Jorge Martin and Aprilia’s Lorenzo Savadori as MotoGP rookies in 2021.
The rookie crop had an extra day of running last Friday in Qatar, with Bastianini fastest of the newcomers in 16th on the combined timesheets after Sunday’s running.
Ending the test 1.5 seconds off the best pace, Bastianini says he “completely changed” his riding style on the Ducati to better slide the rear of his GP19 during cornering.
“Today I completely changed my style,” Bastianini said when asked to sum up Sunday’s running.
“I am sliding a lot with the rear and it’s more important with this bike because I have a lot of control and you can open the throttle in a different style compared to Moto2.
“The big step has been this. It’s not that important to be fastest rookie today.
“I’m happy to be top rookie, and it’s important for my team and for me to make this great start.”
Team-mate Marini was just over a tenth further back in 20th, after working with his Avintia team to try and fit the tall Italian better to his Ducati.

Luca Marini, Esponsorama Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Branding Sunday as the “best of the three” days he’s had on the bike so far, Marini added: “I enjoyed more riding my bike because we worked a little bit on the set-up.
“So it was a little bit easier to ride the bike because we tried something I needed to feel more comfortable in every part of braking, corner entry especially.
“Also, my riding style in the braking area improve a lot, so now I’m closer to the top guys in Ducati.
“We worked more on the electronics side, now the bike is much easier to control and to prepare all the exit and exit well, and also preparing all the braking.
“I found more contact with the front, especially because it’s very important to have the front contact in the moment that you have to brake because when you brake harder when you’re still wheelieing, then the bike is more nervous and there is the possibility to crash.
“Also, today I pushed more on the tyres and I felt better the limit of these tyres which are so much more different compared to Dunlop.
“I’m feeling much better on the bike, more comfortable.”
Related video

Previous article
Aprilia "deserves to fight" with MotoGP’s best in 2021 – Espargaro
Next article
Crutchlow: “Sad for MotoGP” no British rider on 2021 grid

About this article
Series | MotoGP |
Event | Qatar Testing |
Drivers | Enea Bastianini |
Author | Lewis Duncan |
Being top MotoGP rookie in Qatar test “not important” – Bastianini
Trending
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Has Yamaha banished its demons with its 2021 MotoGP bike?
Against the expected run of play at Qatar's Losail circuit, both Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo carved through a resolute Ducati defence to secure back-to-back MotoGP wins for the Japanese marque. After a difficult 2020, it appears that Yamaha has swaggered back into championship contention
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
Did the Qatar GP hint at Ducati’s true MotoGP leader?
OPINION: Johann Zarco talked a big game pre-season, and is so far vindicating himself as a factory rider at Pramac after finishing the Qatar GP as top Ducati in second. And contrasting his and Jack Miller's weekends and their approaches, is Zarco emerging as Ducati's true MotoGP leader?
The key changes behind the latest 'return of the Mack'
Maverick Vinales’s authoritative victory at the MotoGP season opener came during a period of personal and professional change for the Yamaha rider. Can it be the springboard for a title challenge?
The past clues which hint at the MotoGP order in Qatar
The MotoGP season kicks off this weekend in Qatar - two years after it last visited the Losail circuit for a race weekend as last season's round was called off. As ever, the pecking order is difficult to map out at this early stage of the season, but perhaps the 2019 race offers some clues as to how things might shake out...