Marco Bezzecchi came extremely close to securing his first MotoGP Sprint Race victory for Aprilia at the Sachsenring, but was narrowly beaten by Marc Marquez in challenging wet conditions on Saturday. The Italian rider led most of the 15-lap sprint until the final lap, when Marquez, a track specialist, managed to overtake him.
Bezzecchi’s Strong Performance in Difficult Conditions
Starting from the front row, Bezzecchi made an impressive launch and maintained the lead for much of the sprint race. The Aprilia rider, who previously celebrated his maiden Grand Prix win at Silverstone and followed it up with two podium finishes at Assen, demonstrated a solid pace despite the tricky wet surface. Reflecting on his performance, Bezzecchi described the day as “very good day,” highlighting his first experience starting on the front row and contesting a sprint race with his current team.
Despite the late setback, he acknowledged the quality of the battle with Marquez:
“Fighting with Marc in the end was also good, even if unfortunately, I was beaten. But I can’t complain. Of course, one lap earlier I was much happier!”
Final Lap Duel and Marquez’s Advantage
In the closing stages, Bezzecchi and Marquez pulled away from the rest of the field, showcasing a fierce duel. Marquez, riding for Ducati Lenovo, extended his remarkable 2025 Sprint record to ten wins out of eleven starts, underlining his mastery in these shorter races. Bezzecchi admitted that Marquez was faster, particularly in Sector 3, thanks to better traction:
“Marc, unfortunately for me, was slightly faster, especially in Sector 3. He was having a lot of traction.”
Although Bezzecchi set his best lap on the twelfth lap of the sprint, Marquez was consistently quicker from early on, except for one lap. This superior pace made the final overtake inevitable. Bezzecchi explained his effort to resist:
“I was trying to give my all to resist and to try to find something, but I saw that Marc was gaining, gaining, gaining. Even if I made my best lap close to the end, he was gaining anyway.”
Outlook for Sunday and Championship Context
Looking ahead to the full-length MotoGP race scheduled for Sunday, which is expected to take place in dry conditions, Bezzecchi noted he still has improvements to make. After placing seventh in Friday’s practice sessions, he recognizes the need to catch up with leaders like Marquez and di Giannantonio. He said,
“Yesterday my pace was good but was not like the top riders, like Marc, like di Giannantonio, for example. But I will try my best to improve. Tomorrow morning in the warm-up, hopefully we can make some more laps in dry conditions.”
Currently sixth in the world championship standings, Bezzecchi remains close behind fellow VR46 rider Franco Morbidelli, who was forced into hospital checks following a heavy crash during the sprint while running second. Bezzecchi trails Morbidelli by only nine points as the championship battle intensifies.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is Marco Bezzecchi’s personality?
A. In every race, Bezzecchi shows he’s not just talented but also represents hard work, humility, and strong dedication. His story isn’t only about victories. It’s about overcoming challenges, learning from errors, and growing both as a rider and as an individual.
