The reigning Moto2 world champion showed speed flashes at the beginning of the first season in MotoGP, but has made a huge leap in form since the Aragon Grand Prix.
Bastianini scored his first top six result in Aragon, followed by an impressive drive from 12th place in Misano to third place and finished sixth at the Grand Prix of the Americas last weekend – all on an aging Ducati.
When asked by Autosport whether he now feels like a full MotoGP rider and not a rookie, Bastianini said: “I think so.
“I’m a rookie all year, but now with more experience I know which part I have to work in over the weekend.
“I also understand all the tires better and have changed the way I treat the guys a little.
“Now I’m more confident in every race and can be faster for the rest of the season.”
Enea Bastianini, Esponsorama Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Bastianini says his confidence on the motorcycles has grown since the August British Grand Prix where he finished a solid 12th place.
At the Circuit of the Americas he came from 16th on the grid to sixth place on the last lap, supported by a collision between Suzuki’s Joan Mir and Ducati’s factory colleague Jack Miller.
“From Silverstone we took a good step for me and now I’m more confident with the bike,” added Bastianini.
“I can drive it quieter, more relaxed and it is easier for me to be fast.
“I’m really happy about it. [Saturday] was a bad day for me, however [in the race] we were really competitive and that’s important too.
“Starting from 16th place is not easy, but if I start further ahead, more would be possible.
“But that’s racing, you can start from race to race at the back or further ahead.”
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Bastianini will join the Gresini squad next season and stay directly under contract with Ducati to ride a GP21 with his current Avintia team eliminated at the end of the season.