Marco Bezzecchi’s COTA MotoGP Sprint downfall: “A mistake I shouldn’t have made”

Not for the first time this season, Marco Bezzecchi threw away points and a possible Sprint victory with a mistake in Saturday’s COTA race.

This time, it also cost Bezzecchi the world championship lead, to Aprilia team-mate and eventual winner Jorge Martin.

After dropping from second to seventh on the opening lap, Bezzecchi gained places when Marc Marquez and Fabio di Giannantonio collided.

Bezzecchi was later the fastest rider on track, sweeping past Joan Mir, Pedro Acosta and finally Martin, on lap 7 of 10.

Only Ducati race leader Francesco Bagnaia was ahead, but Bezzecchi fell at Turn 11 moments after his RS-GP got out of shape under braking.

After Bezzecchi’s exit, Bagnaia suffered a big drop in pace and was overtaken by Martin, using the medium rear tyre, on the final lap.

“It was a real pity. I made a mistake that I shouldn’t have made because I exaggerated a bit on the braking section,” Bezzecchi said.

“I was coming back well after losing some positions at the start, but I should have been more patient.

“Instead, I made that mistake. We’ll try to make up for it Sunday.”

Bezzecchi, who crashed out of the lead at the season-opening Buriram Sprint, is now one point behind Martin in the title chase.

“It’s a shame about Marco’s crash, as he had an excellent pace,” said Aprilia technical director Fabiano Sterlacchini.

Bezzecchi faces the added hurdle of a two-place grid penalty on Sunday, as he seeks to make amends for the Sprint error by winning a fifth grand prix victory in a row.

"We're fast, and we'll try to have a good race. The medium tyre is working very well… It'll be a tough and very long race, we'll try to do our best.”