Enea Bastianini reckoned he could win the San Marino Grand Prix after setting a string of fastest laps while chasing Jack Miller for third at Misano.
The Avintia rookie finished a stunning third having charged from 12th on the grid after passing the fading Aussie in the closing stages, and even looked to have the speed to chase down leader Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo at one point.
Bastianini’s victory bid ultimately cane undone after his front tyre began to drop off in the closing laps, though the reigning Moto2 world champion was still able to guide his two-year old Ducati home to score a “special” maiden MotoGP rostrum at home in Italy as well as grab his Avintia team’s second ever rostrum result in the process.
“My first podium in MotoGP is very special, today the feeling with the bike was very nice which made it possible to push a lot, especially in the middle of the race,” said Bastianini.
“After I overtook Jack (Miller) and saw I was in third place I was really happy and then in the last laps I tried to close the gap to Fabio (Quartararo) and Pecco (Bagnaia) but the front tyre dropped because I pushed so hard, so I decided that third place was OK.
“I was confident that I could do a nice race but not the podium because I started from 12th, it was difficult but when I got to fifth or sixth I started to think ‘it’s my day’ and I ended up achieving the podium.
“When I saw the fastest laps I thought I could win, but then my pace started to slow a bit and unfortunately it then became impossible to win.”
Bastianini added that it was “very cool” to overtake “the boss of MotoGP” Marc Marquez and other front-running riders-including reigning premier class champion Joan Mir-as he carved through the top ten en-route to the top three.
He also reckoned the secret to his lightning-quick race pace was down to his ability to brake extremely late coupled with the traction garnered from his soft compound rear tyre, admitting he suffered in the slow corners as he struggled to turn his older-spec Desmosedici.
“It was very cool (overtaking big names) especially Marc Marquez who is like the boss of MotoGP, it was fantastic and something special to do here at Misano,” continued Bastianini.
“I can be fast with the 2019 bike at some tracks and today was one of these, I’m not that fast in the middle of the slow corners but I can brake very late and also was able to get very good traction with the soft rear tyre.”
