Fourth place in Marco Bezzecchi during the Australian Grand Prix ensures him the title of best independent team driver in the race and, above all, that of Rookie of the Year for 2022!
Certainly, the suspense was not immense, since the Mooney VR46 Racing Team driver was already well ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio in the beginners' standings, but this consecration came at the end of a truly beautiful race on the part of the driver from Rimini.
Starting from ninth place on the grid, Marco struggled to keep up with the pace of the strongest during the first laps. Tenth after 5 laps, he was however able to make a good comeback which brought him to second position in the second half of the race. There, he took great care not to attack his friend who won the world title, Francis Bagnaia, closing all the doors excessively to try to protect him against Marc Márquez et Alex Rins. Officially, this has nothing to do with Ducati’s “non-team instructions”…
Marco Bezzecchi : " I wasn't fast enough. I tried to overtake. The only place I could have overtaken safely was the first corner, but I lost too much in the last corner. He was very fast and I couldn't use his vacuum because his bike is a little faster than mine. To attempt a maneuver at turn 10 would have been crazy, for him, but also for me, because I had a fantastic race and I didn't want to finish it in the gravel trap or outside the top five. I tried to stay with Pecco and pushed hard just to be close. In the last three laps, my tires were destroyed, and I especially had problems with the front tire. I was able to manage the rear tire a little better, but then both were a little on the limit. When I saw that I could ride in front, I just wanted to avoid problems and of course try to get on the podium, but Rins and Marc were a little faster than me. I hope I made them pee their pants a little! »
In any case, pressed behind and self-limited in front, he ended up giving in to the latter's attacks three laps from the finish, and crossed the checkered flag in fourth position. This mathematically ensures him the title of Rookie of the Year, with 93 points (14th in the general classification), at the end of a year which has already seen him finish nine times in the Top10, and with a second place at Assen. Not bad for a beginner!
It is therefore a Sunday to supervise for the young Mooney VR46 Racing Team at Phillip Island where the 18th and antepenultimate round of the MotoGP world championship took place today, Marco Bezzecchi definitively proving that he is not afraid and belonging to the category of champions. But how far will he go?
Marco Bezzecchi : " I am very happy with the race and the title of Rookie of the Year. We've done a lot of good things since the start of the year, we've grown a lot and it's not over yet. What a GP: fantastic, breathtaking! I was fast and fought for the win until the finish line, although I struggled in the final laps. Pecco (Bagnaia) was strong in braking, Marc (Marquez) and Alex (Rins) had something more, but I gave everything and I can't complain. What a battle! I'm very happy for the team, we are a special group, my family, the Academy and Vale, of course, who always believed in me. »
Paul Grandson : " I'm proud: what a race for our drivers here at Phillip Island, a really difficult circuit! Both in the leading group until the finish line, magnificent driving style and Marco fighting for the podium. A very important result for the whole team who have worked hard since the start of the season to reach this level. In addition, the title of Rookie of the Year: Added value for Marco and the whole team. What a great day, even with another very solid result from Luca, to share with our partners, Mooney first and foremost, who support us, Ducati and everyone working on this project on the track and at home. »
MotoGP Australian Grand Prix results:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
