Enea Bastianini has a ‘big problem’ that KTM must fix, it’s ‘always’ costing the Tech3 rider

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Enea Bastianini has had a steady start to the 2025 MotoGP season since joining KTM Tech3 and feels a ‘big problem’ is now holding him back from taking stronger results.

The 27-year-old only ranks 13th in the riders’ standings after the first five rounds, having not secured a higher finish than seventh place. Bastianini also scored his P7 finish in round three at the Grand Prix of the Americas, with his average result with KTM Tech3 to date just P10.6.

His form has at least been consistent with a P17 finish in the Argentina Grand Prix an outlier amongst P9 results in Thailand and Spain and P11 in Qatar. His worst finish also came due to Raul Fernandez crashing into Bastianini on Lap 3/25, before the Italian remounted his RC16.

Enea Bastianini feels the KTM Tech3 rider ‘always’ has a ‘big problem’ with tyre pressures

Problems have also plagued Bastianini throughout the 2025 MotoGP season as he adapts to the KTM RC16 after exclusively using Ducati machinery since his premier class debut back in 2021. And while Bastianini felt KTM fixed his vibration ‘problem’, stability remained an issue.

Tyre pressures also still remain a ‘big problem’ for Bastianini as the Tech3 rider’s front tyres ‘always’ overheat when he tries to follow rival racers. He has even had the same amount of grip when using a used set of the Michelin tyres than when Tech3 put a new set on his bike.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Enea Bastianini from net worth to career stats

Bastianini outlined, via Speedweek: “When I put on a new tyre, the grip usually remains the same as the used tyre. It’s also always down to the tyre temperatures.

“I can get off to a very good start and I’m always five or six degrees below the others. When I try to keep up, the temperatures rise. That’s a big problem.”

Tyre pressure problems cost KTM Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales P2 at the Qatar Grand Prix

Bastianini needs KTM to fix the Tech3 rider’s tyre pressure problems if the 27-year-old is to improve his early-season results. He is the third-highest scoring KTM star over the first five rounds on 28, but is four clear of Tech3 partner Maverick Vinales who has one top-10 finish.

The Qatar Grand Prix also plays a large factor in the four-point difference between Bastianini and Vinales following the latter’s tyre pressure problems at the Lusail International Circuit. If not for the penalty that the latter drew, Vinales theoretically would be 18 points better off.

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi praised Vinales’ Qatar GP performance after earning a podium finish on the road. The Spaniard lost his P2 result at Lusail after drawing a 12-second penalty after slipping below the minimum front tyre pressure for more than 60% of the race.