VR46 Ducati rider Bezzecchi built an rapid effect on the MotoGP paddock in his debut year in 2022 when he scored a podium at Assen.
Driving the championship-successful 2022-spec Ducati for his sophomore campaign with Valentino Rossi’s group, Bezzecchi eased to a maiden grand prix victory at a damp Rio Hondo to incorporate to the 2nd he claimed in Saturday’s sprint.
Nailing his launch off the line from 2nd on the grid, Bezzecchi went unbothered in the course of the 25-lap grand prix to guide a Ducati 1-2-3 from a tricky-charging Johann Zarco and poleman Alex Marquez.
Bezzecchi’s to start with grand prix earn puts him nine factors crystal clear in the championship immediately after manufacturing facility Ducati counterpart Bagnaia crashed out of next in the race late on.
Persistent rain all working day in at Rio Hondo led to MotoGP’s very first damp commence considering the fact that very last year’s Thailand GP, with the entire industry unanimous in its selection to operate medium front and rear soaked Michelins.
Bezzecchi obtained the very best begin from the entrance row to snatch the lead from Marquez, as Bagnaia slotted into third following the opening couple corners.
Franco Morbidelli was equipped to latch onto the back again of that main trio, with the best four quickly breaking absent from the relaxation of the pack.
At the rear of, there was heartbreak for dash winner Brad Binder, who crashed out at Convert 5 on the 1st lap just after Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales produced slight get in touch with as he overtook the KTM.
At Transform 7, Morbidelli’s Yamaha staff-mate Fabio Quartararo was knocked down the buy from 10th to 16th immediately after Takaaki Nakagami forced him on to the slick painted operate-off.
The two the Binder/Vinales and Quartararo/Nakagami incidents were positioned below investigation, but no even more action was taken by the stewards.
By the conclude of the 1st lap, Bezzecchi was already seven tenths distinct of Marquez on the Gresini Ducati and would proceed to prolong that gain.
Occur the close of lap 13, Bezzecchi was 3.6s distinct and would open that hole out to above 5 seconds when Bagnaia and Marquez engaged in excess of next.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Staff
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Bagnaia manufactured his 1st shift for second on lap 15, the manufacturing facility Ducati rider steaming up the inside of of Marquez at Flip 9.
Marquez retaliated with a terrific go on the within of the rapid Turn 11 remaining-hander, but Bagnaia built a decisive go at the penultimate switch. Next appeared like it would be nailed on for Bagnaia, but the earth winner crashed at the penultimate corner two tours afterwards.
Bagnaia re-joined, but will come away from the grand prix without factors in 16th in advance of Binder after his lap-one particular crash.
At the head of the pack, Bezzecchi retained every thing tidy by way of to the chequered flag to rating Ducati’s to start with win at Rio Hondo.
The battle for 2nd raged to the remaining lap, as Pramac’s Zarco – who was at a single stage 6 seconds powering the podium – charged by means of to overhaul Morbidelli on lap 23, right before taking 2nd from Marquez at Convert 5 on the final tour.
Zarco headed Marquez to the chequered flag to comprehensive an all-satellite Ducati leading a few.
Morbidelli savored his greatest grand prix end result due to the fact 2021 in fourth, 2.1s obvious of the sister Pramac Ducati of Jorge Martin and KTM’s Jack Miller – who started out 16th.
Quartararo manufactured a reliable restoration to seventh in the conclusion from VR46’s Luca Marini, LCR Honda’s Alex Rins and the Gresini Ducati of Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Augusto Fernandez scored the best consequence of his rookie period so considerably in 11th on the Tech3 GASGAS, with Vinales the foremost Aprilia in 12th at the conclusion of a hard race for the Italian producer.
Nakagami was 13th from RNF Aprilia’s Raul Fernandez, while 2022 Argentina race winner Aleix Espargaro scored the closing place in 15th on his manufacturing facility Aprilia as he appeared to have battled eyesight challenges with his helmet visor.
Joan Mir withdrew from the grand prix on Sunday early morning following his sprint crash, that means no Repsol Honda workforce rider was existing on the grid for the 1st time considering the fact that the 2021 Valencia GP.
