Marco Bezzecchi’s apology to Czech Grand Prix marshal was ‘completely staged’

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Marco Bezzecchi appeared apologetic following his out-of-character actions towards a track marshal at Brno, but the ‘spontaneity’ of it has been questioned.

Bezzecchi was banned from the Czech Grand Prix after he slapped a marshal twice in the Sprint race. Crashing out with a handful of laps to go, the marshals went to retrieve his bike when one accidentally revved the throttle, prompting the Aprilia rider to strike him.

MotoGP handed the championship leader a race ban for the Czech GP. The Italian watched on as Marc Marquez claimed victory and closed the gap in the standings – he has taken 62 points from him in the past two rounds.

Marco Bezzecchi’s apology to the marshal he hit at Brno was ‘completely staged with cameras’

With Bezzecchi now holding an eight-point lead in the standings and a 40-point lead over Marquez, the pressure is on to keep the advantage. Something like this is not what he needs right now.

Marquez defended Bezzecchi’s actions, saying he was full of adrenaline and stressed that he would learn from the situation. But that does not excuse striking a marshal, which has been widely condemned as unacceptable, and some even think his punishment was too lenient.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Marco Bezzecchi from net worth to race number

Bezzecchi apologised to the marshal in person and was seen giving him his gloves. The Aprilia rider was noticeably upset with his own actions, but the circumstances of his apology make it seem disingenuous.

As journalist German Garcia Casanova notes via Motorsport Espana, the 27-year-old went to apologise to the marshal ‘with cameras’ present. The apology was ‘completely staged’ and not one that comes off as him going out of his way to apologise.

‘Spontaneity was nowhere to be seen’ with the action. Apologising is one thing, but doing it without television broadcasters and photographers present would have been the right way to do it.

Bezzecchi will return to the grid at Assen, but the scars of Brno will certainly be on his and everyone in the paddock’s mind. It is an incident that will not be forgotten easily, especially if it costs him the championship.

Bezzecchi was focused, according to Aprilia chief Paolo Bonora, as he watched Marquez edge even closer to him. The pressure and the attention are even higher on the Italian, and he cannot afford to have another slip-up.