Third in the Moto3 World Championship in 2018, just four points behind second Fabio di Giannantonio, Marco Bezzecchi impressed by winning the three Grands Prix of Argentina, Austria and Japan on his KTM from the Redox PrüstelGP team. His rookie season in Moto2 last year was more discreet, with twenty-third place on KTM, before spending this year on a Kalex within the Sky Racing Team VR46, led by Pablo Nieto, and with teammate Luca Marini , half-brother of Valentino Rossi.
Pablo Nieto requires his two drivers to work together, particularly for the slipstream during qualifying practice to ensure two good places on the starting grid. This is also true for the team's two Moto3 riders, Andrea Migno and Celestino Vietti. How it works ?
“Since the winter tests in Jerez, I discovered this method that the team was already using with Pecco Bagnaia and Luca Marini with excellent results", Marco explained to Peter McLaren from crash.net.
“In the very first tests I focused on learning the new bike, but soon, even though my speed was not enough, we started training with my teammate and that allowed us to ride more quickly lap after lap. »
“It's really cool because you can easily see your strengths and weaknesses, see where you're doing better and where your teammate is stronger. »
“The team's goal is to be competitive with both bikes. There is not a number one driver and a number two driver, we are here to achieve the best possible results. »
“It is the result of a joint strategy between Pablo [Nieto], the team coordinator, the two chief mechanics and the drivers. »
“If there are no major tests to do, we ride together in testing to try to push each other and improve performance. Depending on the lap times, Luca can lead first, and I follow, or vice versa. It's an extraordinary boost. »
“When I'm in the lead, knowing that my teammate is behind, I give my best to escape. And when it's my turn to chase Luca, I push like crazy to catch up with him. During qualifying, it is even vital, and the objective is to qualify the two machines on the front rows. »
“The plan changes depending on the characteristics of the track, but the method is basically the same. Whoever is strongest comes out and leads, then – after a few laps – we swap positions. »
“During qualifying we only used one tire due to the track conditions. I came out first in qualifying because I had better pace in the first laps, and Luca was able to set his best time in the third lap. Then we swapped and on the last lap I was able to improve my time, and I finished seventh. »
“In the race, we got off to a good start. Luca was leading, while I was seventh, when the front tire suddenly went down around the 7th or 8th lap. We started to struggle and lose positions. I finally finished twelfth. »
“It's strange because only Luca, Jorge Martin and myself suffered from this problem with the front tire. It's a shame because we weren't able to take advantage of the good results we got in testing, but overall I'm satisfied. »
“In Qatar, I learned to stay in the lead pack, especially in the first laps, while I need to improve in the second part of the race. »
Source: crash.net
Photos © Sky Racing Team VR46
