Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Bezzecchi bounced back from his crash in the Thailand Sprint race to claim victory at MotoGP’s 2026 season-opener, with Aprilia’s advice ahead of the Grand Prix in Buriram working like a charm.
After setting a new lap record during the final test of pre-season in Buriram, it was clear that Aprilia had optimised their package for the 2026 season-opening Thailand Grand Prix.
The Noale-based outfit’s preparations had proved fruitful upon the grid’s return to Thailand a week later, with Marco Bezzecchi claiming pole position ahead of Ducati’s Marc Marquez and the Aprilia-backed Raul Fernandez.
However, things took a turn for the worse in Saturday’s Sprint race. After being usurped by Marquez off the line, Bezzecchi crashed out of the race as he scrambled to try and make up the ground that he had lost to the reigning world champion.
With another shot at leading the pack into turn one coming in Sunday’s Grand Prix, the 27-year-old made sure not to let his mistake from the previous day get to him, with help from those inside the Italian constructor’s garages.
- READ MORE: MotoGP race result as Marco Bezzecchi wins Thailand Grand Prix and Marc Marquez suffers puncture
Pedro Acosta leads the championship for the first time in his career after his P2 in Thailand. Will he be a genuine contender this season?
Let us know in the comments below!
Paolo Bonora revealed the advice that Aprilia gave Marco Bezzecchi ahead of the Thailand Grand Prix
During an interview with TNT Sports ahead of the Thailand Grand Prix, Aprilia race manager Paolo Bonora shared the advice that bosses within the team had given to Bezzecchi ahead of Sunday’s race.
The Italian revealed (07:35am 01/03), “We spoke with him and said to just be careful in the first part of the race, because it is a long, long, and very hot race. So it would be necessary to manage that carefully, the energy.
“So, don’t push so much in the initial part because another main topic here is the wearing of the tyre, the rear tyre in particular. And, yeah, keep the energy, and save something for the end of the race.”
Aprilia chief Massimo Rivola told Bezzecchi to be ‘clever’ in his battle with Marquez ahead of the Sprint, but it’s now clear that the Italian must have suffered from a lapse in concentration before ruling himself out of the rest of the race yesterday.
However, the disappointment must have had a positive effect on Bezzecchi’s mental state heading into the Grand Prix.
The Italian didn’t put a foot wrong on his way to the chequered flag, securing Aprilia’s first ever win at a MotoGP season-opener in the Italian constructor’s history.
- READ MORE: Neil Hodgson praises Toprak Razgatlioglu’s ‘fantastic job’ on MotoGP debut at Thailand Grand Prix
Has Ducati’s dominance in MotoGP finally come to an end?
Ducati are now showing some signs of worry following Marco Bezzecchi’s dominance with Aprilia in Thailand
While there are still another 21 race weekends for Ducati to emerge as their usual dominant selves, Francesco Bagnaia has indicated that some alarm bells are now ringing within the confines of the Borgo Panigale-based outfit’s garage.
During post-race media duties, Bagnaia told journalists that Ducati aren’t ‘the fastest’ team anymore, which is in stark contrast to what MotoGP has experienced in recent years.
In fact, the victory for Aprilia marks the first time since 2021 that a constructor other than Ducati has found themself on the top step of the podium at the first race of the season.
It also bodes quite well for the #63’s future aspirations. Bagnaia is expected to join Aprilia for the 2027 MotoGP campaign, so there can be some positives for the Italian to take away from the race weekend in Thailand.
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