Ducati ‘perfectly suited’ to Austria - Bastianini; ‘special circuit’ for Marini

This weekend’s Styrian MotoGP presents the first of two back-to-back opportunities for Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini to secure their best results of the season to date. 

Since making its return to the MotoGP World Championship in 2016, the Austrian Grand Prix has been won by Ducati on all five occasions, with only Miguel Oliveira the non Ducati rider to win a race at the Red Bull Ring (2020 Styrian Grand Prix). 

And with Ducati’s ever improving straight-line speed - only really matched by KTM at times in 2021, rookies Bastianini and Marini are relishing the chance of using a ‘perfectly suited’ Ducati to get ‘closer to the leaders’.  

Bastianini said: "We are coming to Austria, a circuit I like a lot. I don't know how it will be with MotoGP, but I'm full of energy. 

"During the break I have tried to relax but also to stay fit, because MotoGP is a very complicated category and I would like to adapt immediately. 

"The Ducati is a bike that is perfectly suited to this track and it has worked very well over the last few years, so we will do our best to get the best possible result."

Bastianini’ best result of the season to this point was a ninth in Portimao (round three), while Marini is yet to crack the top ten in a race. 

Nonetheless, last year’s Moto2 runner-up sees both races at Spielberg as an opportunity to score valuable points. 

Marini added: "I'm happy to be back racing, it's been a long summer break. I can't wait to get back to work and back on the bike. 

"We arrive in Austria, a very special circuit, with few corners and which I like. Ducati has always done well here, and our goal is to get closer to the leaders and score points. 

"We are going to run two races in a row at this circuit, and I'm sure that in the second week the gap will be even smaller, which is another reason to work well from the first GP."