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2024 MotoGP World Championship
2024 Barcelona Grand Prix
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya
Montmelo, Spain
Sunday, 17 November 2024
Ducati Lenovo Team's Enea Bastianini admits it would be easier for him to focus on securing third position in the riders' standings than aid Francesco Bagnaia's title quest at the Barcelona Grand Prix on Sunday, November 17.
The gap to Gresini Racing's Marc Marquez stood at 14 points ahead of the Thailand Grand Prix, but the Italian has reduced it down to one going into the season finale.
Bastianini was able to capitalise on Marquez's fall in the Malaysian Grand Prix to claim P3 - his ninth podium of 2024 - to keep his hopes alive of finishing third in the championship for the second time in his career.
Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
The 26-year-old rider had ambitions of challenging Prima Pramac Racing's Jorge Martin and team-mate Bagnaia for victory in Sepang, but issues with his tyres meant he was well off the pace.
"It bothered me," Bastianini said. "Going from winning by a margin (in 2023) to finishing third with a gap means we were missing something.
"We couldn't give 100 per cent, and when I can't show my potential, I'm not happy. I was there to win, and I didn't succeed."
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Image copyright: Getty Images
'The Beast' acknowledges it would take a major twist for 'Pecco' to overturn a 24-point deficit to Martin in his bid to win a third consecutive title.
"We could help each other," he added. "It all depends on how the race develops - there are so many variables. For Pecco to win the title, it would take a big mistake from Jorge. For me, it's easier to aim for third place in the championship."
2024 Malaysian Grand Prix results:
Winner: Francesco Bagnaia - Ducati Lenovo Team
Second Place: Jorge Martin - Prima Pramac Racing
Third Place: Enea Bastianini - Ducati Lenovo Team
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