The Italian Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia) shone on his land on Saturday by winning the pole position before winning the Sprint race from the Saint-Marin Grand Prix de MotoGP. The Spanish world leader in the world championship, Marc Marquez (Ducati), has known a disappointing day.
A few kilometers from his hometown of Rimini, Bezzecchi dominated Ducati and the Marquez brothers on the Marco-Simoncelli circuit in Misano, to the delight of Tifosi and his Mentor Valentino Rossi, all smiles on the edge of the track.
“I am delighted to win. The race was not perfect because I had some problems but I still managed to have a very good pace. I gave everything so I’m very happy, ”said the Transalpin.
End of a series of podiums for Marc Marquez
At the end of the morning, Bezzecchi had created a first surprise by making the best time of qualifications in front of the Spaniard Alex Marquez (Ducati-Gresini), the French Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Marc Marquez, only 4th, once is not custom.
Then during the first half of the race, the Italian was very solid, without however succeeding in escaping. Author of a superb start, Marc Marquez ended up doubled him in the 6th round thanks to a superb overtaking of which he has the secret. But a few turns later, the six -time MotoGP world champion lost the front of his motorcycle and fell, annihilating any chance of scoring points.
His series of 15 consecutive podiums this season in the Sprint race, with 14 victories and a 2nd place, therefore ended for Catalan, who had already seen another incredible series in Catalonia, that of 15 consecutive victories.
“I had made the hardest and made a mistake at the easiest moment. The front tire had temperature when I was behind Marco (Editor’s note: Bezzecchi) And it was not time to attack too much. This is the first error in sprint this year, it can happen. I felt good, I was fluid and fast so it was encouraging for the Grand Prix on Sunday, ”said Marc Marquez to Canal+.
The Spaniard remains solidly hung in the first place in the championship with 173 points ahead of his brother Alex, 2nd Saturday. Whatever the result on Sunday during the GP, the Ducati driver will be able to win during the next round in Japan a seventh planetary crown which would allow him to match Rossi, his former big rival.
Ducati could look gray on Saturday since in addition to the fall of its leader, Italian Francesco Bagnaia was still very disappointing. The double world champion only took the 8th place in qualifying and made a calamitous performance during the Sprint race, which he finished 13th.
