Goiania [Brazil], March 23: Marco Bezzecchi is back on top as the Aprilia Racing rider took a stunning fourth Grand Prix win in a row in Brazil, and for the first time in Aprilia's history at the Autodromo Ayrton Senna in Goiania on Sunday.
Bezzecchi, who had already won the season's opening GP in Thailand three weeks ago, repeated the feat by finishing ahead of his Spanish team-mate Jorge Martin and Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio of Ducati, who had started from pole position.
Spanish reigning world champion Marc Marquez of Ducati, who had won Saturday's sprint race on the Brazilian circuit, had to settle for fourth place.
His compatriot Pedro Acosta (KTM), who had arrived in Brazil at the top of the championship standings, lost his lead to Bezzecchi after finishing seventh on Sunday.
The race was shortened from 31 to 23 laps due to the extreme heat, which was causing severe tyre degradation and raising safety concerns for the riders.
Marquez ambushed Di
Giannantonio to win sprint
Earlier, world champion Marc Marquez pounced on a late error by Fabio Di Giannantonio and then held off a desperate last-lap counter-attack to win the delayed sprint race.
Friday's practices for the first MotoGP in Brazil in 22 years were delayed by mud deposited on the track by the week-long downpour and then disrupted by more rain.
On Saturday, after Di Giannantonio topped the morning's qualifying session in dry conditions, a hole opened up in the main straight, another consequence of the recent torrential rain in central Brazil. Following rapid road repairs, the flag dropped 80 minutes late for the sprint.
Di Giannantonio, on a Ducati satellite VR46, bolted from pole with only Marquez on his factory Ducati able to give chase.
With two laps to go, Di Giannantonio, who has never won a sprint race, wobbled and Marquez shot past. The Italian was on the Spaniard's rear wheel throughout the last lap but Marquez filled every potential hole.
"Super important victory because in Thailand I was suffering," said Marquez. "I'm still not riding as I want, but just keep pushing."
He said that he expected to have to battle the "super-fast" Di Giannantonio again on Sunday.
Di Giannantonio rued his mistake but was happy with his podium place.
"The conditions were different from this morning," he said. "On two corners there was less grip. In the same corner I did two mistakes and I ruined my race."
"We have to be super happy," he added. "Second place, super close to Marc. Let's give it another go tomorrow."
The joy seemed to be greater with each step down the podium.
Jorge Martin, who followed his 2024 world title with a catastrophic campaign marked by injuries following serious crashes and disputes with his Aprilia team, was euphoric as he tried to lead the Brazilian crowd in cheers.
"I'm really happy," the Spaniard said. "Been a tough journey."
Martin competed in only seven races last season and did not finish higher than fourth.
Source: Qatar Tribune
