Bezzecchi corrects mistake and takes sprint win at Phillip Island with Seagulls

Marco Bezzecchi He added his third sprint win in the last four short races, rectified his monumental Mandalica mistake at Phillip Island and added another win as he learned in the absence of ‘boss’ Marc Marquez. And he got pretty scared when he caught a seagull at the start of his warm-up lap and carried the remains of the poor animal around with him. Raul Fernández and Pedro Acosta accompanied him on the podium and are already chasing Bagnaia for third place in the championship, which is now separated by just eight points.

Treble-winning Ducati are going through a complicated period, with an unusual run of results since losing champion Marc Marquez to injury. For the first time since the 2020 European Grand Prix, Ducati will not be on the front row of the grid, ending a streak of 98 consecutive GPs. The situation worsened in the short races. For the first time since the sprint format debuted in 2023, no Ducati reached the podium.

In the race for the semi-finals, Alex Marquez He placed 6th and gained 4 more points. Pecco Bagnaiais 19th and penultimate with 32″4 after just 13 laps, and if he scores another 19 points this Sunday, meaning if Bagnaia doesn’t score and Alex is second, he could tie the score. We must remember that this is the big favorite. bezzecchi This Sunday, he will have to comply with the two long lap sanction imposed by Mandalika – losing about six inches. However, if he uses the speed he continues to have this weekend, he might be able to get two wins with that handicap.

Fabio Quartararo In the absence of Marc Marquez, he overcame the heavy favorites in Q2 in the morning and achieved a big surprise by winning Australia’s first pole, including a record. Marco Bezzecchi A combination of the good work of the Frenchman from Yamaha, the trouble of competing in Indonesia, the yellow flag, and the trouble of his friend Pecco Bagnaia cost him his prestigious position.

Both drivers, who would have been in the best position to fight for second place had Bezzecchi’s permission, didn’t have the best day in morning qualifying. Alex Marquez Despite crashing twice in Q2, he saved Furniture with his sixth win, the most advanced of any Borgo Panigale. bad Pecco Bagnaia He qualified 11th and lost three positions in the GP race due to sanctions for interfering with Bezzecchi in Q2.

The drivers in the second row responded: Alex Marquez Use your half-forward advantage to take the initiative when you arrive at the first corner. Raul Fernandezthen surpassed him and moved a few meters ahead. After being struck by a flock of seagulls passing by during his warm-up lap, Bezzecchi reacted quickly, one hitting his helmet and another taking his helmet off, allowing him to pass. Alex Marquez I was patient in the first turn and this time I tried to find the timing to pass Raul Fernandez within a second.Prints at 13 rotations.

Fernández and Bezzecchi took the lead alone, while Alex Marquez, who had taken two pole positions in the morning, lost the meter and had trouble with Miller and Acosta, who were waiting, but he overtook him without incident in the slipstream on lap seven. Another runner-up candidate is Pecco Bagnaia He dropped down the order at the start and by the fifth lap was in 20th place, 15 inches behind the leader. It was unprecedented for the two red bikes of the official Ducati team to finish the race without crashing. Marc Marquez’s substitute, tester Pirro, was the only one behind him, respecting order and joining the last five cars.

On the 6th turn, bezzecchi Due to Fernandes’ speed difference, he lost control of his braking, and Fernandes almost went off the line, losing precious meters. But at one turn he suddenly broke six tenths of a second, and I could see he was still carrying as a ‘passenger’ the remains of the poor seagull he had led on the warm-up lap. I was lucky that it didn’t crash into the radiator and break down.

With four races remaining, Bezzecchi has already outpaced Fernandes and the Madrid native and has a three-second lead over Acosta and Miller, aiming for a brilliant second place and a second consecutive sprint podium.

The battle for third place got even tougher on the final lap, with Acosta holding his line firmly against Miller and Di Giannantonio, who had left Alex Marquez behind to join him. By 66 thousandths of a second, Acosta had secured third place against local hero Miller.

And if Bagnaia was a cross, then the glowing face would be the oldest person on the grid, who retired two years ago and hadn’t touched a KTM in two months. Pol Espargaro He added the final point on his second-best ninth KTM after a defense from Bastianini. He was praised again by Pedro Acosta, who finished third. Acosta wanted to point out the great job both he and Matty Giffen tester Dani Pedrosa have done at KTM.