Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi finished the day in third place, narrowly avoiding a major accident on the first day of the Japanese Grand Prix. The Italian rider had a strong start on the asphalt which was completely new in Motegi, and he managed to qualify directly to Q2 in the Pre-Qualifying session in third place.
New Asphalt Characteristics
Bezzecchi noticed light rain in some parts of the track; however, because the braking zone was dry, he did not anticipate the track surface in the corners would be wet. The rider realized the motorcycle was starting to skid, and when he realized the track was wet, he could not explain how he managed to recover.
I started with a big recovery. There was a slight spray throughout the track, but the asphalt was completely dry. When I reached Turn 11, the braking zone was also dry. When I entered the corner, I saw the asphalt was a bit darker. Since it was new, I couldn't tell if this was a characteristic of the asphalt or wetness.
Bezzecchi expressed general satisfaction with the completely new asphalt of Motegi. He stated that the grip feeling on new asphalt is different but will improve as he progresses.
Competition Expectations
The rider stated that the competition in the Motegi race was very close, expecting the frontrunners to be fast. He anticipated Marc Márquez, Alex Márquez, Pedro Acosta, and Jorge Martin to be fast.
I expected Marc to be fast. He has always been very competitive here over the years. I also expected Alex to be fast because he is very strong in braking. I also expected Pedro because he was competitive here last season in the Clay season and won at Spielberg. Jorge is fast as always.
Bezzecchi stated that after the first day, he intends to strive to improve and get closer to the podium in the front group competition.
Overall Assessment
The Aprilia rider viewed his FP1 and Pre-Qualifying performance positively and stated that he maintained a consistent speed throughout the day.
The first day was good. First, I must say that the asphalt is really very good, like a billiard table. However, there is a slightly different grip feeling on all new asphalt, just like with all new asphalt. The grip is good, but there is not enough rubber buildup yet. It will definitely improve as the laps progress.
Bezzecchi stated that by finishing in third place, he achieved a better result than his teammate. Jorge Martin dropped directly to Q2 in eighth place, while Bezzecchi made a strong start for the day.
Statistics
- Marco Bezzecchi is competing in third place with 268 points in the 2026 MotoGP season (Aprilia Racing Team).
- Archive: Marco Bezzecchi trained on a bike with Valentino Rossi in karting (September 28, 2026)
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Go to sourceCompiled by Şükrü Utku Poyraz
