Enea Bastianini fears KTM are ‘missing something’ as Sepang Test data revealed key issue

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Enea Bastianini has endured a frustrating start to his new life as a factory KTM rider having struggled with Tech3 throughout the Sepang Test as he adapts to a new bike.

The Beast has a new garage to prowl this year after Bastianini signed a two-year contract for KTM upon being dumped by Ducati to clear a space for Marc Marquez. He is also partnering fellow new KTM recruit Maverick Vinales at Tech3, following the Spaniard’s exit from Aprilia.

Rimini native Bastianini had not ridden any form of KTM bike since his rookie Moto3 season back in 2014 prior to departing Ducati for Tech3. He spent four seasons with Honda bikes in the lightweight class before straddling a Kalex chassis in Moto2 plus Ducati bikes in MotoGP.

Tech3 star Enea Bastianini feels KTM are ‘missing’ too much speed after the Sepang Test

The Sepang Test this week was also not a positive patch for Bastianini as the new Tech3 ace adapted to his KTM RC16 at the home of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Of the four KTM pilots, it was always Bastianini at the bottom of the timesheet as Pedro Acosta led the Austrian team.

READ MORE: Everything to know about KTM Tech3 including the MotoGP team’s riders

Bastianini was even only the 19th-fastest rider of the 23 to take part on Day 1 of the Sepang Test, with a 1.201-second deficit to Acosta, a 1.090s gap to Brad Binder and a 1.045s margin to Vinales. The Italian would also be the 17th-fastest rider on Day 2 and then 18th on Day 3.

KTM Tech3 saw Bastianini make some progress in the 27-year-old’s lap times from the first and second days. But despite trimming his initial personal-best 1:59.597 lap to a 1:58.011 by the end of Day 3, Bastianini feels KTM’s data showed they are still miles off their rivals’ pace.

Bastianini said, via Speedweek: “I haven’t made much progress. From the first day of testing to Friday, I only gained a little more than a second – that wasn’t really much. Nevertheless, I gave the team some information and I know in which area we need to work.”

The KTM Tech3 rider continued: “I know where I lost time, we have evaluated the data. We are missing something, especially at the corner entrance – the speed is very low there.

“We are fast in the last and first sectors. But, especially in the second and third sectors, we lose more than 0.7 seconds. That is too much!”

Enea Bastianini needs to turn a corner as KTM’s slowest rider in Malaysia

Acosta was the fastest of KTM’s four riders at the Sepang Test yet finished Day 1 in 11th with a 0.841s gap to Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo. Despite taking P7 on Day 2, Acosta still faced a 0.595s gap to VR46’s Franco Morbidelli and was 0.682s to Gresini’s Alex Marquez on Day 3.

What will be more worrying for KTM Tech 3 after the Sepang Test is that Bastianini was only faster than rookie LCR Honda rider Somkiat Chantra plus test riders Michele Pirro for Ducati, Lorenzo Savadori with Aprilia and Andrea Dovizioso for Yamaha on Day 3 despite his 44 laps.

Bastianini was also not alone in struggling on one of the Austrian outfit’s bikes. Vinales has a ‘problem’ braking on KTM‘s bike after a MotoGP career spent at Suzuki, Yamaha and Aprilia. Both KTM Tech3 riders will be desperate to improve at Buriram at the final pre-season test.