Enea Bastianini: New aero ‘80% better’, unofficial lap record made with ‘new fairing’

Enea Bastianini was fastest on day-two of the Sepang MotoGP test, as he set an unofficial lap record in the process.

Close to the first-ever sub 1m 57s lap, Bastianini beat Jorge Martin by over a tenth, after the Spaniard was quickest on day-one.

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Bastianini set his lap time right before the end of play but admitted early issues stopped his initial plan of doing a time attack early on.

“This morning we worked a bit with the new aero and with the set-up because at the start it was planned to do a time attack, but we had a small problem,” said Bastianini. 

“In the afternoon I tried to do some fast laps but it was too hot so we continued with the new aero, the set-up and also we had a new exhaust.

“I think we worked well. It was important for me to do one time attack because I remember my situation during one weekend [last year] and it’s important to be fast in this area.

“I’m happy about this and also about the work of the team in general.”

Bastianini also tested Ducati’s new aero and he was impressed after saying it worked for both himself and team-mate Francesco Bagnaia.

New aero was not bad,” stated ‘the beast’. “I think it is a good step for us and for me and Pecco it was okay.

For Jorge [Martin] who has a different style, he doesn’t like it so much but for me the new aero is better around 80% of the track.”

Bastianini, who won the Malaysian grand prix in 2023 which was his only win of the year, has always been quick around the Sepang International Circuit.

But what was an even better sign for the Italian was his best lap time came with a new fairing configuration.

“I made the lap time with the new fairing and also with the new exhaust,” added Bastianini. 

“We have to adjust the first touch of the throttle a little bit because it is a little bit strange. But for the rest the 2024 bike is really good.”