Marco Bezzecchi started his quest for a fifth straight Grand Prix victory by setting the fourth quickest time in Friday observe at COTA.
That is 16 locations greater than in Brazil per week in the past. At the moment, the world championship chief entered Qualifying 1 in final place, twentieth place.
Bezzecchi averted the stress of qualifying for Texas Q1 by lapping simply 0.200 seconds behind Ducati’s Marc Marquez.
One of many riders between them was fellow Aprilia rider Ai Ogura, whose knowledge will present helpful clues for Bezzecchi to take one other step forward of Saturday.
“It was a constructive Friday, significantly better than final Friday in Brazil!” Bezzecchi informed MotoGP.com. “General, I felt good this morning and this afternoon.
“I nonetheless should preserve working as a result of the bike will not be fully in form, however I am unable to complain in any respect. And there are quite a lot of stats to take a look at. Additionally, Ai (Ogura) was quick, so total I am blissful.”
As Bezzecchi left the pits for Friday’s last run, digicam footage confirmed one thing falling from Bezzecchi’s RS-GP.
“I had no concept. The fellows at my earlier TV station simply informed me,” Bezzecchi stated. “So I suppose it wasn’t that essential!”
Requested if he thought he would be capable of combat seven-time COTA champion Marquez this weekend, Bezzecchi stated: “Sure.
“Effectively, Marc was very robust. In addition to the crash, he confirmed that he can run very quick in a really brief time.
“However we are attempting to do our greatest so we hope we are able to take small steps in the direction of tomorrow. We want it to be sooner and we are going to see.”
Regardless of Sunday’s success relationship again to Portimao final season, Bezzecchi crashed in Thailand, completed fourth in Brazil and is but to attain a podium within the 2026 dash.
Bezzecchi will begin the COTA dash race with an 11-point lead over teammate Jorge Martin, who was seventh in Friday’s free observe.
