Considering the results, these three days of testing at Sepang were like a cold shower for Marco Bezzecchi far from the mark with a GP23 which does not seem to suit him. Falls, sluggish performances, the situation is all the more worrying as, during this time, his new teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio displayed a broad smile on the other side of the VR46 box...
Marco Bezzecchi concluded the three-day IRTA test in Malaysia on a mixed note. The pilot of the VR46 Racing Team still struggling to find his feet with the Ducati Desmosedici GP23, requiring a different riding approach to the one he used with the GP22 the previous year.
In collaboration with his team, Bezzecchi chose not to focus on lap times, preferring to work on his driving style. Here is his feeling: “ we close this first test on a somewhat complex day. We encountered a slight problem with the bike and decided not to focus on lap times. I preferred to focus on driving, but it remains a challenge ».
He adds : " the bike is very efficient, but I'm still adjusting, and it takes time. The sensations when braking and accelerating differ from those I had with the GP22. I haven't fully exploited the machine's potential yet, which is why we chose to take it step by step and put aside the fast lap simulations in preparation for Qatar ».
Marco Bezzecchi: “ I still don't feel comfortable on the bike »
With only one MotoGP pre-season test remaining before the start of the season in Qatar, Marco Bezzecchi believes that significant improvements are necessary. He has not yet regained the sensations he had with the 2022 bike, especially regarding the engine, despite his three victories and a sprint at Assen.
Marco Bezzecchi continued: “ I am not satisfied. We encountered more difficulties when trying different configurations. We decided to go back, but I still don't feel comfortable on the bike. The engine is different, and the way the bike behaves when braking has changed. I'm having a hard time trusting forward like I used to. I also have trouble transferring power to the ground ».
Then he summarizes: “ Overall, I have difficulty entering and exiting turns. We will find solutions to progress. This is just the first test ». Marco Bezzecchi finished the third day of testing at Sepang 1,3 seconds behind the reigning two-time world champion Francis Bagnaia...
Combined MotoGP test results:
Classification credit: MotoGP.com
