Nature of the Beast

CAN THERE BE such a thing as a winner on the right bike, just in the wrong colours? That was the impression given by Ducati bosses on Sunday afternoon in France, as Enea Bastianini (Gresini Ducati) coolly dispatched with factory runner Francesco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) for a third victory of the year, giving the Bologna bosses a headache as contract talks reach a critical phase.

The fortunes of the two Italians were in sharp contrast here. In a similar manner to his previous triumphs in Qatar and Austin, Bastianini managed the contest brilliantly, sitting in third behind Bagnaia and Jack Miller (Lenovo Ducati) for 10 laps before a late push took him to the head of the field. It was the kind of mature, measured performance we expected of his compatriot before the season started. Instead Bagnaia folded, crashing out 10 turns after Bastianini had first hit the front.

There was an uncharacteristic spikiness to the Gresini rider soon after, too. Apparently riled by comments Bagnaia had made the previous day, which indicated he’d prefer Miller to remain in factory colours for a further year, Bastianini was only too