MotoGP India: Marco Bezzecchi ‘not thinking about the title, but..’

All eyes are now on the slim 13-point gap between Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin at the head of the MotoGP standings, but if Marco Bezzecchi can repeat his Indian Grand Prix form he has plenty of time to join the title fight.
Marco Bezzecchi, MotoGP race, Indian MotoGP, 24 September
Marco Bezzecchi, MotoGP race, Indian MotoGP, 24 September

Starting on pole, the VR46 ꩲrider had been innocently caught up in yet another first turn incident - his third in four rounds - during the Saturday Sprint, when team-mate Luca Marini ran into the back of his bike.

“I hope to pass the first corner safe for one race at least,” said the exasperated Italian afterwards. “If I'm not safe in the first row, where do I have to st💜art?”

But his comeback charge from last to fifth sent a warning of the crushing pace he would unleash on Sunday. Bezzecchi did make it safely through turn 1, passed ༺both Martin and B🌠agnaia on the opening lap, then disappeared to a huge 8.6s victory.

With Bagnaia crash🌠ing out, Bezzecchi’s third Grand Prix win of the year has put him 44 points from the factory Ducati star (and 31 from Martin) with seven rounds and a potentia🎶l 259 points still up for grabs.

“I’m not thinking about the championship still, because it’s very long.♎ But to be c🅺loser anyway, I would lie if I told you I don’t like it!” smiled Bezzecchi.

“Because to be able to fight with Pecco, Jorg🍸e, also Brad is close, they are amazing riders. So for me it’s an honour.

“But today I just want to enjoy the 𝔍day. It hasn’t been an easy week. I lost a friend some days ago so I just want ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚto dedicate this to him and his family and then go to Japan, which is a track I really like."

Marco Bezzecchi, , MotoGP race, Indian MotoGP, 24 September
Marco Bezzecchi, , MotoGP race, Indian MotoGP, 24 September

The 24-year-old, who unlikꦑe Bagnaia and Marꦇtin has only a year-old Desmosedici and does not yet have the latest holeshot device system, added:

“After yesterday I was really motivated to bounce back. I started well. I knew Jorge and Pecco would probably pass me because they have so💦mething more on the start [device].

“I kept myself calm and tried to sta꧋y just close to them. Once I got the 💧possibility I passed in front. I was a bit aggressive but I had to do it. After I tried to do my pace, managing the tyre in the best way I could. I felt amazing on the bike so very, very happy.

“It’s a track I liked since the first time I rode on it. Everywhere was cool for me because t♏here were some hard brakings, also some fast parts. Physically I felt better with the hand [injured in Catalunya] so the change of directions weren’t a problem anymore like in Misano.

“Sector 3 was really fantastic to ride and the hard brak🌱ings I really liked. I tried to be focussed on that part because normally Pecco and Jorge, especially Pecco made more the difference on that part.

“I really liked this place and enjoyed celebrati🎐ng with the fans. In the Asian part of the world they a𝄹re really loud! I really like this. I hope they enjoyed it. Maybe next year there will be even more fans. For me it was fantastic.”

Jorge Martin, race
Jorge Martin, race

To help Bezzecchi celebrate more victories this season, ꧃h𝔍e would like the new factory holeshot device to make its way to the VR46 garage.

“For sure the start is something I’ve been struggling this weekend,” he said. “They [factory spec riders] have a different system whicཧh I don’t have unfortunately.

“For the rest I don’t know, I’ve never tried [the factory bike]. But I can’t complain. I🥀 really like my package. Maybe for the start they sho𓆉uld give me something. I will ask for sure!”

Team-mate Marini fractured his collarbone (and received a long lap penalty to serve on his return) for the Sprint incident and will also miss this weekend’s Japanese round at Mote😼gi.

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