Bastianini secures ‘very special’ maiden MotoGP podium at Misano

Enea Bastianini clinched a stunning maiden MotoGP podium in Misano after coming from P12 on the grid to finish third. 

The Italian made up several positions in the early laps before reeling in fellow Ducati rider Jack Miller for third. 

This was at a time in the race where Bastianini was consistently the fastest rider on track before making his first overtake attempt on Miller stick. 

It was a move that ultimately gave Bastianini the home podium which he called ‘very special’.

"First podium in MotoGP is very special. Today the feeling with the bike was really nice and it stayed possible for me to push a lot, especially in the middle of the race," added Bastianini.  

"After I overtook Jack [Miller] and I saw in the table third place I was really happy. 

"At the end, the last six laps I tried to close the gap with Pecco [Bagnaia] and Fabio [Quartararo], but I had some drop in the front tyre because I had pushed a lot in the middle."

While this result might surprise some, Bastianini looked quick all weekend and was coming off a sixth place finish in Aragon - his best result before today. 

But even so, fighting for the podium was not expected, not least in Bastianini’s mind: "I was confident to do a very nice race, but not for the podium because I started from the 12th place. 

"But after I was in sixth place, then fifth, I was thinking ‘okay, it’s my day’. Finally the podium arrived."

Bastianini had to overtake some impressive names en route to claiming his first podium, including eight-time world champion Marc Marquez, last season’s series winner Joan Mir and the above-mentioned Miller. 

And while he was able to learn ‘a lot’ during the race whilst battling other riders, Bastianini believes more of the improvements this weekend came from understanding his Ducati package. 

Bastianini added: "I have learned a lot today. With these guys, these riders, it was nice to for me to overtake Marc Marquez and Jack Miller in the braking. 

"But I think I have learned more about the bike during all the weekend and also in Aragon when I was without a rider in front."