Marco Bezzecchi knows well that racing in front of his home crowd can be both a blessing and a burden. Heading into the home round at Misano, the Aprilia rider admitted his excitement but also acknowledged the pressure that lies ahead.
“I’m very happy to go to Misano. It will be great to finally see all our fans again, although it will definitely be a very demanding weekend. I can’t wait to get on track with the RS-GP26,” said Bezzecchi, who is fighting at the sharp end of the championship this season.
Last year, at the same stage of the season, Bezzecchi and Aprilia were effectively doing a dress rehearsal to challenge Marc Marquez and Ducati for 2026. The twists and turns between the end of 2025 and the development of the 2026 championship have brought Bezzecchi and Marquez to a similar level, with only five points separating them in favour of the nine-time world champion.
What’s surprising—though not entirely—is that Jorge Martin is ahead of them, a specialist at winning titles when he is leaving a team. The Misano and Red Bull Ring rounds will tell us a lot about which of the three title contenders can look at the Asian tour with genuine optimism.
After several races where Marquez and the Aprilia riders could accept limiting damage on unfavourable tracks, Misano is a place where that excuse no longer works. Whoever comes out on top will send a strong message to their rivals.
Bezzecchi understands that the home factor can be a double-edged sword. Misano is as close as it gets to a home track, with all the positives—and negatives—in terms of pressure to handle. “I’m looking forward to it, but it will definitely be a demanding weekend,” he said, capturing the ambivalence he feels.
Read Also
MotoGP's Carlos Ezpeleta explains why Madring is not suitable for MotoGP, despite F1's use. Focus is on Adelaide's success in 2027.
Loris Capirossi will be inducted as a MotoGP Legend at Misano. Discover the career journey of the world champion who made history with Ducati.
Nicolo Bulega believes his riding style suits MotoGP better than Toprak Razgatlioglu. See his analysis on bike adaptation, WorldSBK dominance, and potential class switch.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!