The Ducati Lenovo Team arrives in Australia to contest the first Grand Prix of the final triple-header for 2024. After the event scheduled at Phillip Island, south of Melbourne, this weekend, the Italian team will fly to Thailand and Malaysia before heading to Valencia from November 15 to 17 for the season’s grand finale.
Therefore, an intense and decisive period, where the fate of the World Championship will be decided, will open up this weekend and currently sees reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia occupying the second position in the overall standings, 10 points behind the current leader Jorge Martín (Pramac Racing). The rider from Chivasso, just back from a splendid double victory in Japan, as he triumphed in both Saturday’s Sprint and Sunday’s GP, arrives in Australia motivated, strong from the good sensations he had last time on the track.
Enea Bastianini, currently third in the World Championship, 69 points behind his teammate, also aims to consolidate his position in the standings and continue to be among the protagonists in the race. In the last GP in Japan, the rider from Rimini scored second place in the Sprint and came close to the podium on Sunday by finishing fourth.
The Ducati Lenovo Team will also have its first match point for the Team World title in the seventeenth round of the MotoGP World Championship.
Francesco Bagnaia (#1, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 2nd (382 points)
“I am happy to be back on track in Australia. This race will open the last triple-header of the season before the grand finale in Valencia so that it will be crucial. Very few Grands Prix are left now, and getting the best will always be essential, as well as not making mistakes. The last weekend in Motegi, we worked well, but it is also a track that suits my riding style very well. Phillip Island is a fast track where I have always been quite competitive but also a bit peculiar, and the grip of the asphalt and the fluctuating weather conditions always play a key role. In any case, we are ready and will work hard to be fast right from the start.”
Enea Bastianini (#23, Ducati Lenovo Team) – 3rd (313 points)
“Racing at Phillip Island is always something fantastic. The track layout is very nice, and it’s a very fast track. Last year, because of the strong wind, we had to move the GP to Saturday and the Sprint, which was scheduled for Sunday, was eventually cancelled. So, I am looking forward to a full weekend this year in Australia. So far, we have been fast and competitive on almost every track; therefore, I aim to start on the right foot again and get a good result.”
Ducati Lenovo Team riders will take to the track on Friday, October 18, at 10:45AM local time (GMT +11.00) for the first free practice session of the Australian GP.
Circuit Information
Country: Australia
Name: Phillip Island
Best Lap: M. Márquez (Honda), 1:28.108 (181.7 km/h) – 2013
Circuit Record: Martín (Ducati), 1:27.246 (183.5 km/h) – 2023
Top Speed: Bastianini (Ducati), 356,4 km/h – 2022
Track Length: 4,45 km
Sprint Race Distance: 13 laps (57.85 km)
Race Distance: 27 giri (120.15 km)
Corners: 12 (7 left, 5 right)
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