Marco Bezzecchi rakes special victory at the dramatic French GP

Michelle L.

May 15, 2023

Marco Bezzecchi bounces back to battle for the top spot as Le Mans served up a day packed with headlines.

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The SHARK Grand Prix de France finally ended on a spectacular note! Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) takes a special place in history as the race winner at the 1000^th FIM Grand Prix. Bezzechi managed to sweep a stunning break for glory in front of a record crowd at Le Mans.

Mooney VR46’s Bezzechi is now just one point behind Championship leader Francesco ‘Pecco’ Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The Italian crashed out of the race after a dramatic clash with Aprilia Racing’s Maverick Viñales.

The grid formed in front of the biggest crowd MotoGP has ever seen. Starting off the lead was Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) but it was Bezzechi who revved his VR46 Ducati and fought his way to the finish line of the Bugatti Circuit.

A four-rider battle for victory took place near the end of the race with Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), Marquez, Bezzechi and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing). Bezzecchi pushed his way through on Marc Marquez and dropped the Spaniard from 2nd to 4^th. The number 93 was sent into a frenzy although no harm was done. Both riders regrouped and Bezzecchi was then told to drop a position for the move. The Italian however did not find the penalty surprising.

“I expected the penalty. I didn’t want to pass but I braked a bit too late. When I realized I was getting closer and closer, I tried to go inside to not hit him. Unfortunately, I pushed him wide so I thought for sure they give me a drop position. I was ready for it and I agree, also. It was a bit too much. It’s difficult to pass but I didn’t really want to pass, but it’s ok. Fortunately, I kept myself calm about the penalty. I knew was coming, tried to find the right place to give up the position and then fight back. 

When speaking about the victory, Bezzechi detailed the ecstatic feeling he got after crossing the chequered flag.

“It was fantastic. I saw I was fast, at the beginning I didn’t want to use the front tyre too much or put too much temperature in it. When I was behind someone, I was trying to pass quite quickly and when I found myself at the front I thought, ‘Now I have fresh air’. I tried to push and see how it is. On Friday I had a good pace so I tried to make the same but it was even better! I was able to ride 31.9, and 31.8 and it was fantastic. I saw I was escaping so I tried to stay calm and concentrate, at one with my bike, and it was an incredible emotion crossing the line in the dry. In the wet was good but in the dry even better!”

With the championship plot ever-changing in MotoGP, there’s no telling what the chapter holds as the paddock moves to the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley on the 9th to 11th of June.