Bez🔜zecchi was the first of three Independent riders to win a race this season, his debut victory in Argentina by followed by wins for Alex Rins (LCR Ho🦋nda, COTA) and Jorge Martin (Pramac Ducati, Sachsenring).

“What I'm most proud of is my first win, which w🔥as my real goal for this season, but I didn't expect it to 🧜happen so quickly,” admitted Bezzecchi.

That win also put the VR46 rider into the early title lead but, despite a second victory in France, 🌃Bezzecchi began the summer break third in the standings behind reigning champion Bagnaia (36 points ahead) and Pramac’s Martin (1 point ahead).

While Bagnaia and Martin have both🎃 suffered two DNFs so far, Bezzecchi’s only retirement, and ‘biggest regret’ so far, was at Jerez.

• Official: Sam Lowes to♌ World Superbi🦩ke with Marc VDS
• Brad Binder: Blessing to have a fast team-mate - and Jack Miller꧟’s Ducati knowhow
• Sam Lowes: Acosta, Arbolino deserve MotoGP | ‘I can’t do that’ like Rins

“The biggest regret so far was probably the Jerez race: I stru♉ggled all weekend and then I crashed in the race. A real shame because it's important to bring home points even in difficult moments,” he said.

Nonetheless, “This first partಞ of the season has been very positive for me. I managed to make a big step forward compared to 2022,” added the Italian, who was 14th in his rookie season.

Looking to the future, Bezzecchi, who has the 2022 spec Ducati rather than latest 2023 ma♌chine of the title leaders, feels Bagnaia and Martin currently have a ‘small step’ over the rest.

"It is a very demanding championship because there are many🔥 fast riders and very competitive bikes,” said Bezzecchi. “The level is very high and I think it’s going to be even higher in the second half of the season because every rider will get faste⭕r and faster during the year.

“So it will be very tough to manage but at the moment I think Pecco and Jorge Martin are a small step a෴head of everyone. So we will try to improve and be closer, as much as we can.”

VR46 is trying to negotiate an upgrade to factory spec machi✃nery for Bezze🦄cchi next year, rather than risk losing their star rider to Pramac.

“Questions about the future are not that difficult to handle becau💎se I have a great team behind me, with the VR46 Riders Academy and my manager,” Bezzecc🅠hi insisted. “They try to remove all the pressure and keep me calm about this. I'm lucky because I can concentrate on riding and give my best every weekend.

“The team is doing an amazing job♉. We have improved in every aspect. My crew made a very good job and also Luca's crew is fantastic… We have to continue like this.

“For the second half of the season I don't have a precise goal, I want tꦜo continue like this. Have more confidence with the bike, be closer to the strongest guys. If more podiums come, I'll be happy🧸".

Team-mate Luca Marini is sixth in the world championship, with two podiums, heading into the summer b꧃reak.