BEZZECCHI SAYS ANTONELLI’S F1 SUCCESS IS A “GREAT MOTIVATION” FOR HIS 2026 MOTOGP TITLE BID

Marco Bezzecchi says the rise of Formula 1 rookie Kimi Antonelli is giving him extra drive as he targets the 2026 MotoGP title. The Aprilia rider, speaking at the San Marino Grand Prix, described Antonelli’s current form as “a great motivation” for his own championship ambitions.

Bezzecchi and Antonelli are friends, with the Italian F1 driver sometimes training with Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy. Their connection was on display at last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where Bezzecchi was a Mercedes guest and watched Antonelli win at home after starting 19th following an engine penalty. Bezzecchi said seeing that turnaround provided “a big boost of adrenaline and a big emotion.”

Asked how much Antonelli’s success has influenced his MotoGP campaign, Bezzecchi stressed that their relationship is personal first: “Well, at the end we are just friends.” He added, though, that Antonelli’s achievements are still a powerful reference point, saying, “to see the success that Kimi is having is a great motivation for me.” Bezzecchi also suggested he hopes he can be an inspiration in return, telling Antonelli, “I hope also that I am a little bit of an inspiration for him.”

The focus now shifts to Bezzecchi’s home race at Misano. He arrives third in the standings, 24 points behind championship leader and Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin, after a run of podiums at Aragon. Bezzecchi won the sprint at Misano last year, and with Aprilia expected to be stronger than Ducati at the circuit, pressure is naturally on him to deliver a victory.

While acknowledging the weekend’s importance, he played it down as a single opportunity rather than a defining moment. “It’s obvious that it’s a special race for me, but, in the end, it’s only a race,” Bezzecchi said. He also admitted he would like to win, adding, “I would lie to you if I said I would not like to win.”

However, his preparation is still affected by injuries from a crash in Germany in July. Bezzecchi said he is “still recovering a bit from the injuries, especially my knee,” and that the situation is “still making my life a little bit tough.” He noted that his shoulder is “finally, good,” but his main goal is to return to the condition he had at the start of the season: “my main target is trying to be back at my beginning of the season shape.”