Marco Bezzecchi responds when asked if he’s the ‘strongest rider’ on the grid with Marc Marquez out

Add as preferred source on Google

Marco Bezzecchi might be the favourite to win the Malaysian Grand Prix in Marc Marquez’s absence, but he won’t have an easy ride at Sepang.

Fellow Aprilia rider Raul Fernandez won the last race at Phillip Island, and people are starting to take notice of the Noale-based manufacturer. There’s a genuine chance that, without Marc Marquez around, Aprilia have the strongest bike.

Being the team leader of the factory outfit, this means that Bezzecchi is considered the favourite to rack up wins across the final three races of the campaign. Without a double long-lap penalty in Australia, he’d have won, and now that he’s in the top three of the MotoGP standings, he’ll carry extra confidence.

After reaping the rewards, Bezzecchi has lauded Aprilia’s spectacular work. The Italian rider refuses to admit they might be on par with Ducati yet, though.

Bezzecchi’s crash with Marquez was top news in Indonesia. Now it has been announced that the seven-time champion is out for the rest of the season to focus on his recovery, which involves missing the post-season test. It’s major news.

READ MORE: MotoGP fans are all saying the same thing after Marco Bezzecchi receives penalty for Marc Marquez crash

Marco Bezzecchi refuses to admit he’s the ‘strongest rider’ in MotoGP amid Marc Marquez absence

Nearly 12 months into his debut season with them, Bezzecchi admitted he was scared to sign for Aprilia due to the inevitable responsibility of such a role. If anything, his workload has been way higher than expected due to the absence of teammate Jorge Martin, but he has handled things well.

If anything, he has proven himself to have been the savviest appointment of 2025, helping to move their bike forward, after starting the year behind Honda.

No one can overtake like Bezzecchi, according to his boss, Massimo Rivola. It’s one of the traits that make him the most potent threat on the grid in Marquez’s absence. It’s hard not to consider him as a contender for the 2026 title now.

According to Motorsport.com, Bezzecchi was asked whether he considers himself the ‘strongest rider’ in the sport during a press conference before the Malaysian Grand Prix, to which he delivered a clear response.

“I don’t really know how to answer. It’s a very complicated question,” he said. “As you know, in sport, you can make the difference when you are constantly at your top. I’m trying to do this, but I don’t think that I’m at that point right now.”

READ MORE: Aprilia chief has heard people say something ‘completely wrong’ about Marco Bezzecchi

Why 2025 might have been Marco Bezzecchi’s most impressive MotoGP campaign yet

Currently, Bezzecchi is on course to match his best finish in the MotoGP standings, after finishing third with VR46 back in 2023.

He won three races that year, which is two more than he has managed this season, but he has already matched the number of times he appeared on the podium with three rounds to go (seven).

This time, he isn’t on a Ducati, and he has had to do the bulk of the development work and team leading all by himself, and for the first time.

It will have been a very eye-opening experience for him, but it has also proven that he was ready to step up and handle important business. Joining Aprilia has done his reputation no harm.