Marco Bezzecchi admitted his “brain was on fire” after a mentally draining Austrian Grand Prix. The Aprilia rider bounced back from his costly San Marino crash to score a brace of third-place finishes at the Red Bull Ring. However, the result wasn't enough to close the gap to championship leader Jorge Martin, who now leads by 42 points.
Bezzecchi impressed throughout the Spielberg weekend, finishing third in the sprint and repeating the feat in Sunday's main race. Though he couldn't challenge Martin for the win, he showed competitive and consistent pace. “It feels great when you manage to stay close,” he told Sky Italy. “On such a complex track, where tyre management is so crucial, even what seems like a small gap is actually a lot. I'm happy I worked this way; I analysed everything, and my brain is on fire right now.”
That statement reflects the intensity of Bezzecchi's efforts in analysing data to improve performance. He admitted to learning from everyone and staying open to any idea. “I've picked up a little from everyone; I've kept my head down and tried to stay open to the idea of trying anything to improve,” he added. This approach paid off as he closed the gap to Martin towards the end, though he ultimately had to settle for third.
However, behind the positive result, Bezzecchi is still struggling with a long-standing knee injury. He revealed that the Red Bull Ring's demanding layout, which keeps the knee bent for most of the lap, exacerbated the pain. “I'm still suffering because the knee is making me struggle,” he said. “In this kind of track where you always stay inside the bike with the knee bent, it's not been easy.”
In Sunday's race, Bezzecchi briefly led on the opening lap. He tried to challenge Martin to signal he was still there. “At the beginning I was fast, I tried to pass Jorge, just to let him know I'm still here,” he recalled. But after Martin passed him, he realised the Spaniard's pace was too strong. Pressure from Pedro Acosta made it even harder, and he eventually lost the front at the last corner and ran wide.
Nevertheless, Bezzecchi didn't give up. He fought back and closed the gap to Martin again. “I lost the chance to try when I made a very small mistake in T1, and for this I was a little bit sad,” he lamented. “But I was really giving my all and suffering also because the knee is still making me struggle.”
With the Austrian result, Bezzecchi has fallen further behind in the title race. He now trails Martin by 42 points. Although the season is still long, he needs to find a solution to manage his injury and improve consistency if he wants to stay in contention. One thing is clear: his determination and hard work are beyond doubt. “Brain on fire” might not just be a figure of speech, but a reflection of a rider's dedication who refuses to give up.
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