Why Marco Bezzecchi had no answer to Jorge Martin’s pace in the French GP

Motorsport photo

Marco Bezzecchi pointed to a lack of confidence in the front-end of the Aprilia after suffering a straight defeat to Jorge Martin in the French Grand Prix.

Having taken the lead at the start of the race by passing polesitter Francesco Bagnaia, Bezzecchi came under mounting pressure with 10 laps to go, as team-mate Martin charged from seventh on the grid to grab second.

What had initially looked like a comfortable advantage of almost two seconds rapidly disappeared as Martin set a series of fast laps before passing Bezzecchi with ease at Turn 3 with two laps remaining.

While the result was significant for Aprilia as it celebrated its first-ever podium lockout in MotoGP, it also marked the first time Bezzecchi had been defeated by his team-mate in a Sunday race this year.

Having started the season with three consecutive grand prix victories, Bezzecchi now faces a serious title challenge from Martin, who has closed within one point of him in the standings.

Lap time comparison

| | | | 19 | 1:31.310 | 1:31.852 | Martin +0.542s | | 20 | 1:31.324 | 1:31.489 | Martin +0.165s | | 21 | 1:31.845 | 1:31.945 | Martin +0.100s | | 22 | 1:31.472 | 1:31.722 | Martin +0.250s | | 23 | 1:31.248 | 1:31.491 | Martin +0.243s | | 24 | 1:31.651 | 1:31.788 | Martin +0.137s | | 25 | 1:31.868 | 1:32.710 | Martin +0.842s | | 26 | 1:32.047 | 1:32.129 | Martin +0.082s | | 27 | 1:32.341 | 1:32.030 | Bezzecchi +0.311s |

However, the Italian wasn’t frustrated to finish second, admitting that he lacked the pace all weekend to fight for a victory.

“I never really felt comfortable as I wanted [to be] on the bike,” he said. “I didn't even expect to lead for so many laps of the race because my feeling was not the best.

“But I tried to manage. I tried to put everything I had on the track. Until the last six-seven laps, even if the problems were coming more and more, I did not feel too bad.