As Motorsport.com Italia reports, Marco Bezzecchi touches down at Phillip Island for the Australian Grand Prix carrying the sweet momentum of his Mandalika victory, yet facing a mountain to climb in the championship fight. With just five Grands Prix remaining on the calendar, the Aprilia Racing rider sits 46 points adrift of his teammate Jorge Martin. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez sits merely two points behind Martin in a fiercely tight battle at the front.
Speaking to the Italian media in the Phillip Island paddock after the opening press conference, the Italian rider reflected on his recent return to the top step. Winning in Mandalika broke a frustrating streak that had weighed on him heavily ever since his injury. The machine is performing reasonably well, and his primary focus is extracting maximum speed from the opening sessions.
Given the close championship math involving his teammate and Marquez, questions naturally turned to whether Aprilia might step in with team orders to aid Martin. Bezzecchi was clear that no such directives have emerged from Noale yet. If and when instructions are given, he explained, the team will listen and figure out how to handle it, but for the moment, nothing has been communicated.
Physical hurdles also continue to demand his attention. While his shoulder is fully recovered, his knee remains a persistent problem stemming from his heavy crash at the Sachsenring. Bezzecchi explained that riding the motorcycle repeatedly causes fluid buildup and swelling, making it difficult to keep the leg bent. It is an issue he will simply have to manage for the remainder of the season, knowing a proper fix will require downtime that he cannot take right now.
Away from the immediate championship chase, the paddock addressed the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix scheduled for the weekend of November 8, amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Bezzecchi expressed complete trust in the authorities, stating that if the organization guarantees safety and the running of the race weekend, he will follow their lead alongside his squad.
Finally, the conversation shifted briefly to four wheels, specifically his friend Kimi Antonelli facing a Formula 1 championship match point in Austin with a 102-point margin over George Russell. Bezzecchi wished him well, though he noted that securing enough points to seal the title right away would require a lot of variables to fall into place, advising him to stay calm, focused, and stick to what he does best.
