Bezzecchi, that smile that recalls the Sic: simplicity and talent of a driver that everyone likes

“In that overtaking on Marquez, I was a bit generous.” Generous, he says. But he doesn’t seem sorry. Marco Bezzecchi always surprises you with the sincerity with which he faces racing, life. It must be for this – and that cascade of curls – that many see Marco Simoncelli’s light smile in him. “Thanks for the comparison: unfortunately I didn’t get to know Sic in person, but he was great”. And the Bez, also sportingly adopted by the Doc (“I thank Valentino, who from home suggested how to improve the start: I followed his advice, it went well”), has just begun to grow up.

The Bez and that “generous” overtaking on the Cannibal

Second success in the “queen” category in a month and a half, second place in the standings just one point behind Bagnaia. At Le Mans he mistreated the Cannibal, unbelievable stuff: he attacked him inside, shameless just like the 8-times world champion Catalan always is, forced him to widen almost to send him off the track. Marc Marquez is back, but he knows he has met his match. “A rather generous manoeuvre”, repeated the Bez, with simplicity. “It was right to penalize me by one position,” he admits. But in the meantime he had also overcome another demon of the tracks, Martin: so he gave way to the Spaniard of Ducati Pramac, then returned to the assault. And not even a lap later he was in the lead. Impregnable. Almost 5 seconds ahead of the others: supporting actors, compared to the Rimini rider. But that makes it easy: “The bike was the same as on Saturday, in the sprint race. The difference was made by the start”. Thanks, Valentine. “From the first laps I was in a decent position, it got better.” Better than this. “The pace was really good, I felt strong: I stayed calm, after having to let Martin pass, because I knew I’d be back in front. I pushed right to the end.”

“Thanks to Valentino, and to Gigi Dall’Igna”

It is his second success, after Termas de Rio Hondo. The boy (24 years old) races with a Red from last year, but does wonders as happened to Bastianini in 2022. “I can count on the exceptional work of my team and of all of Ducati, which sent me two technicians this week”. Gigi Dall’Igna, general manager of the Racing Department, was in the Mooney Vr46 garage yesterday morning. “He had one more word for me, it was fundamental”. As fundamental as that luck that must never abandon a rider, Bezzecchi recognizes it: “My partner Marini lost control and I grazed him by centimetres, while Alex Marquez arrived immediately after and hit him squarely. A matter of fractions of a second, I was fine with it.” Four podiums in the season, including sprint races. Where can you arrive? “I don’t know. In the meantime, I cut off my moustache: I was forced to let it grow after the victory in Argentin, on a bet. My mum Daniela liked it, not me. And removing them means I’m back to winning” .

At Mugello, Ducati books a day in the red

WIN. It will happen again, they say in the paddock. Maybe already at the next round in Mugello, the Ducati garden. In a world championship always poised between spectacle and danger – only 13 reached the finish line at Le Mans! -, the only certainty is the excessive power of Borgo Panigale. Who monopolized the podium (Bezzecchi, Martin, Zarco) but also the whole order of arrival (5 Ducatisti in the top 7), and leads the riders’ standings with Pecco and Bez. Enea Bastianini will be back for the Italian race, who – knocked down by Marini in the sprint race – lost everything at the start of the season. And you can bet on a Bagnaia determined to take his revenge after yesterday’s unfortunate incident. Will it be another Italian weekend?