Let's Talk MotoGP: This Rider Is Sinking

This season, the international production is quite focused on the first. Indeed, it is rare to see, on the screen, the riders who fight for a few points. As a result, some have completely disappeared from the radar, and this is the case of the one we are going to study today. Because yes, Marco Bezzecchi, three times winner in MotoGP, is sinking. His recent results are absolutely unworthy of what he had proposed last year. Let us look at his case.

 

An overseas tour to forget

 

The dynamics of his season are quite strange., but overall, no one will be surprised to hear him say that he can't get the measure of his Ducati Desmosedici GP23. He has been good at times, like at Jerez or Misano, and he seemed to return to more honourable positions once the halfway point of the season was over. But since the second round of the overseas tour, he can't do it.

 

 

His last good race was in Indonesia. Fourth in the Sprint and fifth in the Grand Prix, he stood out for his solidity, but was not pushed around. It is worth noting that this is a track that is favorable to him, he was excellent there in 2023 as well despite an injury. But since then, it's been a disaster.. Seventh, 20 seconds behind the winner in Japan, author of a generational blunder at Phillip Island – followed by another the next day… it only got worse.

In Thailand he was forced to retire, while his teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio, injured in his last Grand Prix, missed the podium by a few laps. His seventh place in the Sprint in Buriram represents his last appearance in the points in this format, the only one in four races. And that was nothing compared to Malaysia. Qualifying only 14th on the grid in Sepang, a few falls in front of him allowed him to finish ninth, but not without having crossed swords with… Johann Zarco! Yes yes, the photo exists. The two bikes are not meant to play in the same league.

In the standings, this translates into a frankly worrying situation: he is 12th overall, 21 points behind his teammate "Diggia" who was absent in Malaysia. Just imagine: Bezzecchi, who knows the VR46 environment like the back of his hand, triple winner in 2023 – and in what way – has a good chance of not catching Di Giannantonio in the standings as the latter will have three fewer races contested this season. It's crazy, and it's even sad.

 

 

Unclear reasons

 

Marco Bezzecchi has spoken a few times about his problems with the GP23, but overall he describes the same thing as Marc Marquez, which is doing well. We agree that the GP23 is now quite far from the GP24 in terms of performance, but it remains a very good machine as proven by “Diggia” in Thailand and Alex Marquez in Malaysia.

On the technical side, he mentions excessive understeer, due to abnormal pressure from the rear on the front when entering corners. In his words, "all the drivers on GP23 complain about it" except that not all drivers on GP23 have such disappointing races.

 

Too bad for the show

 

This descent into hell saddens me enough.. Although I am not a fan of any particular driver, I like Marco Bezzecchi for his frankness, his character, his persona. He does not hesitate to go to conflict, to say what he thinks. In an era governed by the media training and other superficial politeness, it sometimes feels good to hear it, even if it is to say something enormous. In our world, perfection fascinates, but it is precisely mistakes and hesitations that sublimate human nature.. I digress.

 

 

Anyway, for me who dreams of a rivalry, I think Marco Bezzecchi is one of the only ones who can animate one that is interesting., spicy, in addition to being beautiful on the track. And of course, you can't assert yourself more when you're playing ninth and tenth places, you'll have understood.

 

You have to be careful

 

Let's say that this end of the season doesn't matter much to Marco, in the end. After all, he has already signed with Aprilia for next year as an official rider. Maybe this challenge will wake him up, but he mustn't stay asleep indefinitely. alongside a monster like Jorge Martin. The Spaniard, who could take the number 1 on his fairing with him, will have the ambition to take Aprilia into another dimension. Thus, Bezzecchi's place could be made to cost more, it's logical. If he does not respond quickly to the challenge imposed on him by the "Martinator", understand that he underperforms on a machine capable of playing for victories, There is little chance that he will have a great career under the awning of Noale.

Everything goes fast in MotoGP, I will never stop saying it. And the example of Marco Bezzecchi, one of the most fascinating only twelve months ago, is glaring. However, I trust him, but we will have the opportunity to talk about it in more detail at the beginning of next season.

What do you think of Marco Bezzecchi and his season so far? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport