"Wow": Enea Bastianini's reaction to Pokémon-Ducati / MotoGP

In keeping with his nickname “Bestia”, Enea Bastianini showed up for the first time in Silverstone on Friday afternoon with new wings on his Ducati, which the Italian found to make his bike a Pokémon.

“Getting on a MotoGP bike always triggers incredible emotions – these bikes are really strong,” grinned Enea Bastianini. Before the five-week summer break, the three-time winner of the season had a hard time after Day 1 in Silverstone and eighth place on the combined timesheets he was cautiously optimistic.

“The first session was difficult but useful to get back on the bike and find the feeling,” said the Gresini Ducati star. “Then in FP2 I tried to push a bit more. The time hunt worked out quite well, I’m quite satisfied. We’re not at 100 percent yet, but I’d say we’ve already made a nice step compared to the finale of the first half of the season. The positive thing is that I seem to have regained some of my feeling for the front. The rear wheel is still a bit unsteady exiting corners, so we have to work on that. But I certainly have to take another step when choosing a line. So far I’m happy.”

Welcome to the Silverstone race weekend

Jack Miller

fabio quartararo

George Martin

Miguel Oliveira

Francesco Bagnaia

Alex Rins

johann zarco

Stefan Bradl

Alex Rins

Andrea Dovizioso

Enea Bastianini

Maverick Vinales

Pol Espargaro

fabio quartararo

Marco Bezzecchi

Aleix Espargaró

Francesco Bagnaia

Brad Binder

Regardless of the result, a lot of eyes were on Bastianini in Friday afternoon’s FP2. Because when it comes to aerodynamics, the Italian manufacturers are always coming up with innovations: Aprilia tested a rear spoiler for the first time in Mugello at the end of May, reminiscent of a small Formula 1 rear wing. After the summer break, Ducati now attached side wings behind the seat to the Desmosedici of Bastianini and Jorge Martin.

Like every aerodynamic trick, the new product provided plenty to talk about in the paddock: some observers said the shape resembled a kite. Yamaha star Fabio Quartararo said: “It looks a bit like Fast & Furious.”

Bastianini himself smiled: “I saw the photos, it looks like a Pokémon. That’s good, I like the design. When I first saw the wings, my reaction was, ‘Wow.’ It just makes it harder to get on the bike, after that it’s not bad.”

How does the Pokémon GP21 feel when driving? “The feeling is good for the moment. Tomorrow we have to test it even better and compare it with the normal variant. It is important to understand whether it is better or not. But my first impression was good, especially on the brakes it is more stable. It doesn’t seem bad for the speed either.”

If it is confirmed on Saturday that the lap times and the feeling are better with the new wings, the “Bestia” will not rule out contesting the race with them.

By the way: Jorge Martin didn’t want to make a judgment yet. But the young Pramac star revealed so much: “It felt a little more difficult in the changes of direction and a little better on the straights. In the end it’s a compromise, we still have to analyze whether it’s better with or without wings.”

MotoGP combined times post FP2, Silverstone (5th August):

1. Quartararo, Yamaha, 1:58,946 min
2. Mir, Suzuki, + 0,154 sec
3. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.177
4. Zarco, Ducati, + 0.188
5. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.207
6. Oliveira, KTM, + 0.217
7. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,300
8. Bastianini, Ducati, + 0.412
9. Miller, Ducati, +0.418
10. Bezzecchi, Ducati, +0.432
11. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.439
12. Marini, Ducati, +0.450
13. Martin, Ducati, +0.711
14. Alex Marquez, Honda, +0.843
15. Bradl, Honda, +0.855
16. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +0.906
17. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, + 1.040
18. Nakagami, Honda, +1,057
19. Dovizioso, Yamaha, +1.097
20. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +1.192
21. Brad Binder, KTM, + 1,198
22. Gardner, KTM, + 1,208
23. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 2,582
24. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 2,632

MotoGP result FP1, Silverstone:

1. Zarco, Ducati, 1: 59.893 min
2. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 0.027 sec
3. Rins, Suzuki, + 0,327
4. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 0,545
5. Nakagami, Honda, +0.555
6. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, + 0.737
7. Viñales, Aprilia, + 0.906
8. Mir, Suzuki, + 0,950
9. Martin, Ducati, +1,055
10. Brad Binder, KTM, + 1,101
11. Pol Espargaro, Honda, +1,147
12. Miller, Ducati, +1,162
13. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 1,219
14. Oliveira, KTM, + 1,227
15. Alex Marquez, Honda, +1,281
16. Bastianini, Ducati, + 1,326
17. Gardner, KTM, + 1,646
18. Raúl Fernández, KTM, + 1,685
19. Marini, Ducati, + 1,714
20. Dovizioso, Yamaha, +1.855
21. Morbidelli, Yamaha, +1.882
22. Bradl, Honda, +2,169
23. By Giannantonio, Ducati, + 2,286
24. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 2,672