Marco Bezzecchi continues to experience ups and downs in the current 2024 MotoGP season. Not much came together in the first three Grands Prix, it was only in Jerez that he managed to return to the top, followed by his first podium since October 2023. In Le Mans The VR46 driver was able to confirm the upward trend and fought for the podium in both races. However, falls dashed any hopes of achieving top results. Bezzecchi didn’t look for excuses afterwards.
As in Jerez, the VR46 driver’s pace was positive. In qualifying he placed his previous year’s Ducati in fifth starting position, and in the first laps of the sprint he was even able to take second place. He drove ten laps towards another podium before crashing in turn nine under pressure from Marc Marquez. Despite the crash, ‘Bezz’ went into Sunday’s Grand Prix with high expectations.
Marco Bezzecchi: Having the same problems since the first MotoGP test
But in the first moments of the full-distance race, something went wrong for the Italian. “I had a wheelie at the start and that caused me to lose a few positions,” explained Bezzecchi. “Then I was in the middle of the field, which of course was bad for my race.” The 25-year-old then tried to fight back and dueled with Enea Bastianini. However, when he tried to attack the Ducati factory rider, Bezzecchi fell again.
The problem that led to the crash has been causing problems for Bezzecchi throughout the season. “When I accelerated, the front wheel collapsed. That was of course my mistake, but we’ve had this problem since the first test. The bike is very prone to understeer.” However, the VR46 driver thought his chances of a podium were slim on Sunday. With his Ducati colleagues He probably wouldn’t have been able to take Francesco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin and Marc Marquez.
Marco Bezzecchi: still in form in 2024
“The front had a better pace than me, but I think a top 5 result would have been quite possible. I would have with Enea [Bastianini] and Maverick [Vinales] “We can fight,” said Bezzecchi. This means that the World Championship third place last season has a zero number in Le Mans. He is one of the big losers of the season so far and is currently only tenth in the drivers’ standings with 36 points. In the fight for the second Ducati Place next to Francesco Bagnaia for 2025, Bezzecchi doesn’t play a role.
Teammate Fabio Di Giannantonio also started the season better. The Roman is in ninth place in the World Championship with 47 points and has finished all five Grands Prix of the season in the top ten. However, he has not yet been able to match the top results from the final phase of the previous season.