Mooney VR46’s Bezzecchi dominates in Termas to become the new title leader as Pecco picks up P16 after crashing from P2
Take a bow Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team). From start to finish, the Italian MotoGP™ sophomore was untouchable as he produced a wet weather masterclass to claim a debut premier class victory – and with it, the World Championship lead. A late-charging Johann Zarco (Prima Pramac Racing) grabbed a late P2 to beat Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) as the latter stands on the podium for the first time with Ducati. On the flip side of the Ducati coin, reigning World Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) crashed unhurt from P2 and crossed the line in P16.
Bezzecchi unbeatable as an early Championship twist occurs in Termas
The threat of a flag-to-flag race loomed but more rain fell after the Moto2™ race had finished, as the premier class revved up for a 25-lap fully went encounter. Bezzecchi grabbed the holeshot from polesitter Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia and Franco Morbidelli (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) slotting into P4. Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) didn’t get away well, as Sprint hero Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed at Turn 5 after contact with Viñales.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™) was shoved wide at Turn 7 by Takaaki Nakagami (LCR Honda Idemitsu) as the Frenchman dropped to P16 in the early exchanges, with the Japanese rider sitting P10. As the race settled down, Bezzecchi was able to stretch out a second lead over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia and Morbidelli keeping in touch. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) was up to P5, the gap to Morbidelli in P4 was 2.7s.
With 17 laps left on the clock, Bezzecchi’s lead was up to two seconds. A lap later it was 2.6s. The Italian was a class apart from the chasing pack in the early stages, and as the Grand Prix approached race distance, his lead kept on creeping up. Bagnaia was keeping second place Alex Marquez on his toe, 0.9s split the duo, with Morbidelli sitting 1.5s back from Pecco in a comfortable P4.
On Lap 15 of 25, Alex Marquez and Bagnaia engaged in battle. After a couple of attempts, Bagnaia got the better of Marquez as Morbidelli closed in too. Meanwhile, a flawless Bezzecchi was 5.6s up the road and well on course to take a dream…