Bezzecchi makes VR46 shine in the Netherlands: “I want to say thank you”

Sometimes, the coincidence of numbers does things well. On June 25, 2017, Valentino Rossi won his very last Grand Prix victory at the Dutch GP. Five years and one day later on the same Assen circuit, Marco Bezzecchi took his first podium in MotoGP, which is also the first Top 3 for the Mooney VR46 Racing Team founded by the Italian legend.

“It’s special to be the first driver of your team on the podium”

And as if that wasn't enough, Bezzecchi became the 46^e different Italian driver to appear on the podium in the premier category. With the victory of Francesco Bagnaia, also a member of the VR46 Riders Academy, it is also the first transalpine double since the 2020 San Marino GP. “It’s fantastic,” said Bezzecchi. Davide (Tardozzi, team manager of the official Ducati team, editor's note), told me that he expected that, but honestly, that was not my case. We worked well throughout the weekend, but with the medium tire. Looking at last year's race, no one used the software. The hard was too hard for us and I didn't expect to pass the soft and go so fast. With the medium, I wasn't fast and we took a risk. But Matteo (Flamigni, his chief mechanic and former Rossi data acquisition engineer, editor's note) took a big step in my mind. He was very confident and, frankly, during the weekend I was very good at managing the tire. As soon as I put the software on (…), I was very consistent… it’s fantastic. »

The few drops of rain did not seem to have disturbed the Italian. “I love mixed conditions,” he said. Already in Moto2, it was something that gave me an adrenaline rush. These are conditions that I like. Even if no one likes it... maybe I'm different! I just looked at Pecco and saw that he didn't slow down much and so I told myself I wouldn't slow down. As long as the rain doesn't touch my neck, I don't slow down. It's a saying that Idalio, (Gavira, coach of the VR46 Riders Academy, editor's note) always repeats to us. »

Leading the rookies

Rossi has always had at least one podium per season out of the 26 of his GP career with the exception of his last, in 2021, for a total of 235 Top 3s, including 199 in the premier category alone. Bezzecchi's podium is in a way the 200^e which was missing from his collection. In his lap of honor, Bezzecchi did not hesitate to pay tribute to him. “It was great to see a commissioner with the Vale flag. I stopped to 'steal' him and show him to Vale at his place... I want to say thank you. He was my idol and still is. For me, it's special to be the first driver of his team on the podium and I hope to continue this by giving him other results, because he deserves all my work. »

.@PeccoBagnaia First and second in MotoGp ad Assen, one year indimenticabile, full of great talent and great strength of all things. @VRRidersAcademy ,In the @ VR46RacingTeam and @ducaticorse
Oggi godiamo,siamo on the head of the world pic.twitter.com/HqsiqhVM9e

- Valentino Rossi (@ ValeYellow46) June 26, 2022

Bezzecchi is therefore the first of the five rookies entered this year to finish on the podium. Before him, we had to go back to Jorge Martin, second in Valencia last year to find a rookie among the top three. In the beginners' classification, the VR46 representative takes off and is now 37 lengths ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio, author of pole position in Italy and recently confirmed for 2023 at Gresini.