Race begins have all the time been the Achilles Heel for Bezzecchi, with the Italian rider usually unable to transform sturdy qualifying performances into top-tier race outcomes after struggling to get away from the road.
As just lately as this month’s Portuguese GP, Bezzecchi reported that he’s nonetheless having points with the clutch on his Ducati, having discovered the GP23 to be “utterly reverse” to its predecessor.
However the three-time race winner appeared to make a breakthrough in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix, as he pulled away cleanly from pole place to fit himself behind polesitter Marc Marquez. It was solely when he was sandwiched by Brad Binder and Jorge Martin into Flip 1 that he misplaced a place, however even then he dropped to solely third.
Talking afterwards, Bezzecchi thanked MotoGP legend Rossi – who was on-site at Jerez as a part of his position at VR46 – for serving to him recover from his clutch points and eventually make a fast getaway from the front-row.
“Originally, I used to be actually targeted on the beginning,” he mentioned. “It’s part of the race that’s all the time essential proper now however it’s additionally an element the place usually I wrestle.
“The clutch of our bike is absolutely robust and looks like I am just a little bit silly and I can not be superb each time. So yeah, I used to be a bit nervous for this.
“Vale helped me quite a bit by this a part of the weekend. He gave me a whole lot of recommendation and luckily immediately I made an excellent one and I used to be there at first.”
Marco Bezzecchi, VR46 Racing Workforce
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Pictures
Bezzecchi had managed a greatest end of sixth previous to final weekend’s race at Jerez, a far cry from the type of outcomes that helped him take third within the standings final yr.
However the Italian loved a return to type on the Spanish GP as he completed a robust third behind fellow Ducatis of Francesco Bagnaia and Marquez, scoring his first podium since final yr’s season finale at Valencia.
Requested if the efficiency confirmed he’s now again at his best in MotoGP, the 25-year-old mentioned: “Hopefully, sure. I used to be lacking this second.
“The top of final season with the shoulder damage [in a training crash] but in addition the start of this season with the brand new bike and the variation and all the things, it was a tricky interval for me.
“I used to be lacking this sense since a little bit of time, so I very completely satisfied to be right here [on the podium]. It was an exquisite weekend, to be sincere.
“I did not count on [it], however I used to be very motivated after I began from residence as a result of final yr right here I used to be struggling, so I used to be motivated for this.
“But in addition as a result of I used to be bettering step-by-step. So I wished to make a great one and luckily I did it.”
