‘Dire’ problem leaves KTM Tech3 rider Enea Bastianini facing ‘complicated’ Thai Grand Prix

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Enea Bastianini is starting a new phase in his MotoGP career this season after joining Tech3 as a factory KTM rider but is facing a ‘complicated’ start at the Thai Grand Prix.

MotoGP has moved its annual round at Buriram forward to start the 2025 and also the 2026 campaigns. This year’s meet at the Chang International Circuit on March 2 will also mark the first time in more than 25 years that a MotoGP season has started in Southeast Asia, as well.

With the Qatar Grand Prix losing its traditional opening-round status, MotoGP even staged a two-day test at Buriram ahead of the Thai GP. But the Buriram Test has not put Bastianini on the right track to start his time as a works KTM rider with Tech3 strongly when racing begins.

Enea Bastianini faces a ‘complicated’ Thai Grand Prix with the KTM Tech3 rider’s ‘dire’ tyre wear at Buriram

Bastianini was one of the brightest talents at the 2024 Thai Grand Prix last October in round 18 of the 20 held. The 27-year-old beat championship title rivals Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia to win the Sprint Race and also qualified P2 on the grid for the factory Ducati squad.

Yet the 2025 Buriram Test showed Bastianini is struggling to adapt to his new KTM bike after four seasons riding Ducati machines. So much so, in fact, that The Race reports the Italian is facing a ‘complicated’ Thai Grand Prix due to Bastianini’s ‘pretty dire’ tyre wear in race trim.

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

Bastianini has often been the king of tyre management to come storming through the order late in races since his MotoGP debut in 2021 as the 2020 Moto2 champion. Yet he is having to re-learn how to brake and attack corners with the different style a KTM needs to a Ducati.

Enea Bastianini is struggling to match Pedro Acosta on corner entry with the 2025 KTM bike

Test rider Dani Pedrosa is helping Bastianini adapt to the KTM RC16 after riding Ducati bikes since his MotoGP debut in 2021. But the 31-time premier class Grand Prix winner’s advice is taking a while to bed in with Bastianini struggling to maximise the KTM bike on corner entry.

The Italian particularly felt he was losing a lot of lap time on corner entry at the Sepang Test. After checking the works KTM rider’s data at the Malaysian Grand Prix track, Bastianini feels Pedro Acosta makes a difference on the KTM in the middle of a corner and through the exit.

Part of the issue behind Bastianini’s tyre management problems at Buriram also stems from KTM suffering a vibration issue, which ensured he could not attempt a full Sprint simulation. Even Acosta reluctantly admits KTM still have a chatter issue having failed to find a fix for it.