ROSSI BACKS BEZZECCHI AS MOTOGP’S FASTEST RIDER THIS YEAR

Valentino Rossi believes Marco Bezzecchi has been MotoGP’s fastest rider this season and says the Aprilia racer should not give up on the championship, despite a sizeable points deficit.

The title battle is finely poised with five rounds remaining. Jorge Martin leads Marc Marquez by just two points, while Bezzecchi is 46 points behind the top spot. The Italian kept his hopes alive by winning the Australian Grand Prix last year, and 185 points remain available this season.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, Rossi acknowledged the challenge but backed Bezzecchi to keep pushing. “It’s difficult, though, why not? There are so many races. In my opinion, Bezz has proven to be the fastest this year,” he said. “46 points is a lot, especially since there are two riders ahead, so it’s difficult, but you have to try to win, you have to try to finish in front.”

Bezzecchi’s results underline both his speed and the inconsistency that has hindered his campaign. He has recorded 11 podiums, more than Martin’s nine and Marquez’s seven, and leads the field with four pole positions. He has also beaten teammate Martin in qualifying 11-6. But eight retirements across 17 weekends have cost him heavily.

His season once looked very different: after winning the Italian Grand Prix at the end of May, Bezzecchi was more than 100 points ahead of Marquez and 17 clear of Martin. Two crashes, a ban and an injury then contributed to a four-race spell without a Grand Prix point. By the end of that run, he had fallen 22 points behind Martin and been passed by Marquez.

More recently, a collision with Raul Fernandez ended Bezzecchi’s Sprint in Indonesia. He described the weekend as feeling like a “loss” rather than a victory, despite his Grand Prix result.

Rossi also pointed to Phillip Island as a chance for Bezzecchi to make amends for last year’s misfortune. The Aprilia rider narrowly missed pole, then dominated the Sprint. In the Grand Prix, he served two long-lap penalties following his earlier clash with Marquez at Mandalika, yet still reached the podium. “In Australia, he has a score to settle with bad luck from last year because he had to do two long laps, otherwise he would have won; so, why not?” Rossi said.