Bastianini was rewarded for winning the second-most amount of g🥃rands prix in 2022 with a step-up from Gresini to the factory Ducati team this season, and was expected to vie with new teammate Francesco Bagnaia for the title.

But aꦅ major shoulder injury at t🌞he opening weekend in Portimao scuppered his hopes.

"There were two critical moments,” he told .

“The recovery from the sho🎐u🦩lder injury worried me a lot. 

“I wasn't able to regain strength, my arm sometimes fell asleep on the bike and it had never happened to me♔ඣ. 

“Since Barcelona things improved, but I relapsed.

“I sat in the wheelchair for 20 days, I was very angry, I didn't want to talk to anyone, I didn't want t🔯o do anything. 

“I hit rock bottom, but from there everything was easier and it was nice to be🐲 myse🍸lf again."

During Bastianini’s struggles it was rumoured he could lose his factory seat to Jorge Martin, who was jostling with Bagnaia for the titl💟e.

"I must admit꧒ that of all things it is the thing that has made me suffer the least,” Bastianini reacted. 

“I have ꦆnever doubted my abilities, if I am in good shape and enjoying myself. 

“Jorge [had] a wonderful championship, but I believe that witඣhout injury I too could have fought for the title. I'll try again next year."

A nightmare debut season in the factory team suddenly exploded into life at Sepang, where Bastianini won his only race of 👍the year to deliver a much-needed reminder of his qualities.

"Intense and unexpected,” he described it. 

“I knew I w♔as back fast, perhaps to𒁃 fight for the podium, and instead... the victory arrived. 

✱“Yes, in the evening we celebrated, we were all together with the te🅠am, we did a bit of karaoke. .. We had fun!”

Oddly Bastianini won in Malaysia a week after starting t꧟he 🌺Thailand MotoGP from last on the grid. 

"I know it may sound a bit strange, but I almost 🗹don't remember starting last,” he said. 

“Because I didn't have any ♔problems and honestly it was embarrassing. 

“I realised I had the wrong approach, that there was something wrong w🥀ith me too. 

“So👍 I went to Malaysia with a different mentality, more determined. Awareꦬ that I could do well, also because the race in Thailand didn't go badly."

Bastianini also switched crew chiefs this year, anඣd has no🐻w completed a year alongside Marco Rigamonti.

“Even in difficulties we have always overcome th🌟em,” he said. 

“We have never argued, we always go i☂n the s🉐ame direction. 

“Sometimes we got nervꦕous, but we are okay when things don't go well. Now that the victory has arrived the atmosphere is much more relaxed."