Gresini’s Enea Bastianini fought till the final second of the San Marino GP with a photo finish placing him second on Sunday.

Resplendent in a retro Fausto Gresini-inspired livery, just 0.034s split the Rimini rider from his factory Ducati counterpart, Pecco Bagnaia, after 27 laps of his local circuit. Bastianini setting the fastest lap of the race with his final effort despite battling hard for his fourth victory of the year. While the climax was dramatic, the race got off to a shaky start for the Bologna fraternity.

“Yeah, it was difficult at the start because my feeling with the bike was so strange,” Bastianini confirmed after suffering, yet saving, multiple moments while many of his colleagues weren’t so lucky. “Was difficult to put temperature on the tyre. After the half part of the race is coming better and it's stay possible for me to push and to go with Pecco and to make a gap from the other guys.

“In the last lap I try with all my potential to win the race but Pecco make more in respect me and win this race.

“I'm happy about this job we have make, fastest lap in the last lap, this is so strange for the MotoGP but I'm happy.

“I have try with all my potential to do the best and to win that race but Pecco have make a very good lap,” he said of his final moves. “I have try in turn number four and when I'm go outside, I try again. At the end I try again in the last corner. Was crazy to try to overtaking Pecco because for me, we can crash together but Pecco brake very later and it stay impossible for me today.”

While Bagnaia and the VR46 Academy train regularly at the Adriatic circuit, Bastianini found little gain.

“I come many times also in Misano to try the Panigale and to make some lap in that track but I think is not really correct because the MotoGP is another world,” he explained. “When I make my first lap and the second lap during the Friday, is too difficult. I make a lot of error because the line and also the gear was different in respect the Panigale and for me this is not the best. But is good to see the bumps on the track and Pecco I think have made more laps compare me but don't change nothing for that.”

With his move to a factory seat confirmed, and his strength continuing to improve with the GP21, the future looks bright for the 24-year-old.

“Yeah, Ducati is very strong, we know this and this is important also for my future,” he confirmed. “Will be important also these two tests to try some new parts and to learn something. From the next year I know we are with the factory team and will be difficult but it's a nice challenge for me, for my life.”