A good silver lining for Enea Bastianini would be that he was able to resolve his qualifying woes from last year, and his overall speed looks to be better. But despite his visible improvements, he will need to be fighting with the likes of Bagnaia and Martin, if he were to retain his seat for next year at the official Ducati team.

For Bastianini, it seems like he is already on the limit with the new bike and will need to make some improvements to find that ‘reserve’ speed that he is missing compared to the leaders.

“I think [the level is the] same as last year. We are super close,” said the Italian. “But I’m not sure if we can do it yet (fight with Bagnaia and Martin).

“For me, I feel like I’m a little bit pushing at 100 all the time, and I feel like they have a couple of percent in their pockets when they want to use it.”

“I’m waiting for the last bit of help, and then we try again.”

Speaking on the landscape of the world championship for this year, Bastianini feels that just like last year, the KTMs and Aprilia are once again super close and will be the rivals to beat this year.

“Ducati now is a reference of all the factories and KTM is really close to Ducati now because we have seen Brad competitive in the grand prix and also the sprint,” said the Italian.

“I think the KTM factory can be close, with Aprilia, as rivals of us for this year.”

Ducati’s General Manager Luigi Dal’Igna gave his assessment of Enea Bastianini’s performance, feeling that the man from Rimini lacked the ‘expected punch’ but it was important to see that ‘The Beast’ was once again mixing it up with the best.

“Enea Bastianini lacked the expected punch, however, it is comforting to see him in fifth position, scoring the points needed to stay with the best, waiting to return to being the protagonist he deserves to be.”

Speaking on Jorge Martin, Dal’Igna felt that the Spaniard was once again on point, and whoever wants to fight for the title will also have to contend with Martin:

“Jorge, as combative as ever, reaffirmed from the start in Pole and in the Sprint, but also on Sunday, showing all the grit and speed that we know so well and that we had left at the end of last season: whoever will be battling for the title will have to reckon with him, and that’s for sure.”

Another Ducati rider who also finished both races ahead of Bastianini was Marc Marquez albeit on a GP23 bike. Dal’Igna was again all praises for the eight-time world champion:

“Marc has already shown all his talent and class through an innate ability to adapt. He is already a fearsome contestant on a bike that is completely new to him. [He was] the first of our 2023 bikes at the chequered flag.”