Bastianini plots Jerez comeback: "Let's hope the painkillers will take effect"

The factory Ducati rider suffered a broken shoulder blade at the first-ever sprint race and has been missing since.

But, he came through a test in Italy unscathed this week and will fly to Jerez.

"Ten laps at Misano aboard the Panigale V4S to understand my condition,” Bastianini said. 

“After weeks of rest and rehabilitation I feel ready to get back on track. 

“On Thursday I will fly to Jerez for the final check of the doctors. See you there."

He added to Sky: "The last indications were good, the last test at Misano was much more positive than the one before Austin. I didn't hesitate, I'll leave for Jerez even if I'm not 100 percent. I can't stay at home, I feel like racing. I'll try to bring home a few points."

"I'll be happy if I can stay in the top 10, it would be a good result.

"I will have to adapt to the speeds of MotoGP, the critical part will be the management of the race and to keep the pace high. 

“I know that I will be very annoyed by the right-hand corners and in Jerez they are enough. Let's hope the painkillers will take effect. 

“I'm calmer for the Sprint than for the normal race.”

He said about missing COTA: "Not being there was hard to accept. Austin is one of my favourite tracks, it was a complicated choice, after the test I thought about it for five hours, but I think it was the wisest decision."

Davide Tardozzi, Ducati team manager, and Michele Pirro, their test rider, were in Misano to keep a close eye on Bastianini’s progress.

It has been a disastrous start to 2023 for Bastianini since his promotion from Gresini Racing to Ducati’s factory set-up.

He was tipped as a threat to his new teammate Francesco Bagnaia’s championship after their exhilarating battles at the end of 2022.

But he was wiped out by fellow Ducati rider Luca Marini on the first Saturday of the season in Portimao, and has missed all three grands prix as a result.

He avoided surgery on his shoulder injury which has sped up his recovery plan.

Bastianini is 64 points behind championship leader Marco Bezzecchi.