Japanese MotoGP: Fabio Quartararo: Enea Bastianini ‘super strong, but less of a contender’

Could the 2022 MotoGP championship battle become a four-way fight - Fabio Quartararo and Aleix Espargaro believe Enea Bastianini remains a real threat, although one who is ‘less of a contender’ with just five races to go.
Enea Bastianini, Ducati MotoGP Aragon
Enea Bastianini, Ducati MotoGP Aragon

After his sensational victory in Aragon, plus Quartararo’s misfortune, Bastianini is no🦋w only 48 points behind the reigning MotoGP champion.

The current 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:MotoGP standings have the top three separated by just 17 points which is the smallest margin since the beginning of the season, and while 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Francesco Bagnaia might be Ducati’s best hope of securing a first title since 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Casey Stoner in 2007 since he’s j🍷ust ten points 💜down, Bastianini can’t be ruled out.

Since Assen, which was five races ago, Bagnaia ౠhas reduced his deficit from 91 points to just ten, showing big points swings can take place. 

Of course, mistakes from Quartara𒅌ro (Assen) and mis🐻fortune last time out has played a big role in helping Bagnaia close that gap, as it has Espargaro and Bastianini, however, the Gresini rider is in as good a form as Bagnaia, so any mistakes from the top three could be punished in a big way.

Asked how he felt about Bastianini as a contender, Quartararo said: "Okay, like a rider he is super, super strong. As a rival, right now it’s five ꦆraces to the end and he’s less of a contender compared to us. 

"I think he is 48 points [behind], but then if some of us make a mistake then he will not be so far. I don’t think he is more of a contender because he made an amazing race in Arag💦on. I see him as a rival but of course, a little bit more🦩 far than Aleix and Pecco." 

Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Japanese MotoGP 22 September
Fabio Quartararo, MotoGP, Japanese MotoGP 22 September

Espargaro had similar thoughts during the pre-event press conference in Motegi, saying: "He has a really high speed, he showed that in Misano and Aragon. Really high spꦿeed with a really strong bike and anything can happen in this cha𒅌mpionship. 

"The thing is, it’s not going to be easy for Ducati in the championship to understand which is the best💟 situation and he is still a title contender in the points, but Pecco [Bagnaia] more than𝕴 him. 

"We will see how they handle this but he is very, very fast. 48 points to win 🍰the title in five rac🌠es is going to be difficult for him."

Chance of becoming MotoGP champion ‘really small’ - Bastianini

With Ducati holding a big advantage over its rivals in qualifying tri🅰m, more situations like Aragon of Misano where Quartararo was stuck further down 🐻the order could take place.

And if other Ducati riders🍌 can put themselves between the likes of 𓆏Bastianini and both Quartararo and Espargaro, then the soon-to-be factory Ducati rider could become a serious threat before the final round in Valencia. 

After calling his 48 point deficit 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:'too much' following Aragon, Bastianini has relaxed that thinking somewhat, although he's still convinced his chances of becoming MotoGP champion are very slim: "I think my chance is really, really small but I haven’t lost the championship for the💞 moment. 

"We will see what happens in the future and it is important to do races in like Aragon a🏅nd Misano. I try to do my best in every weekend and end the championship in a good position."

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