‘Jerez a track I like, everyone fast here’ - Bastianini

Avintia Esponsorama Ducati rider Enea Bastianini heads to round four of the 2021 MotoGP season at Jerez with good memories having claimed his first win in Andalusia last year. 

The Italian finished the first of two races at the Circuito de Jerez - Angel Nieto ninth, before taking a first career victory at the Spanish venue on his way to claiming the 2020 Moto2 World Championship. 

Last time out, Bastianini recovered from 16th on the grid in Portugal to finish ninth during the race, which is a season best result so far, and was also his second top ten following a tenth place finish at the season opener at Qatar. 

"Jerez is a track that I really like. Here we are all very fast so it will be even more difficult to be in front," added Bastianini. 

"Our objective is to get a good time in qualifying, my goal is to work to achieve it. 

"I am very happy with the work we do in Portimao; we started a little behind, but in the end, we managed to be competitive in the race. My goal in Jerez is to be fast from the first day."

So far after three races in MotoGP, Bastianini is the top rookie as he sits ninth in the championship standings, which is one place higher than fellow Ducati rookie Jorge Martin.

With Martin scheduled to miss the next few rounds due to suffering multiple fractures during a big turn seven crash in Portimao, Bastianini is in a prime position to take further steps towards rookie of the year honours if he can continue the current form demonstrated.