Bastianini “looks like a puppy, but becomes a beast!”

Enea Bastianini taught Gresini Racing that “you can get whatever you want” with “monstrous determination”, says Nadia Padovani.
Enea Bastianini, Valencia MotoGP test, 8 November
Enea Bastianini, Valencia MotoGP test, 8 November

Bastianini won the second-most amount of MotoGP races last season, finished third in the MotoGP standings, and earned a promotion from Gresini to the factory Ducati team where he will partner reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia.

The success of the young Italian continues to inspire Gresini, even after his departure.

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“Enea is an incredible guy,” team owner Padovani said. 

“You see it, he looks like a puppy, then it gets on that bike and becomes a beast.

“He taught us that if you have determination, and it is monstrous, you can get wherever you want. Few are born like Enea.”

Fabio Di Giannantonio, MotoGP, Valencia MotoGP, 5 November
Fabio Di Giannantonio, MotoGP, Valencia MotoGP, 5 November

Alex Marquez has arrived from LCR Honda to replace Bastianini, and team with Fabio di Giannantonio, in the 2023 MotoGP rider line-up.

Padovani reminded Di Giannantonio of her late husband’s opinion: “Fausto believed in him so much, I trusted his judgement completely.”

She said about her hopes for Gresini this year: "I want to do some podiums, if a victory escapes..."

Fausto Gresini passed away two years ago, leaving his wife to assume responsibility for the MotoGP team.

"Now I am more aware of what happens both in the company and on the track,” she said. 

"I didn't want to lose what he had created. He knew I have a strong character, but he wouldn't have expected that I would do all this." 

She joked after a successful season: “Look here these four fools led by a woman managed to do!"

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