Marco Bezzecchi Explains Poor Start in Jerez Sprint

MotoGP, Sportrik Media - Marco Bezzecchi has explained the cause of his poor start in the 2026 Jerez MotoGP Sprint, which saw him drop from fourth on the grid to 17th immediately after the launch.

The Aprilia Racing rider lost multiple positions at the start, with TV replays showing a tear-off visor being run over as he accelerated away. A similar incident previously affected Marc Marquez at Phillip Island in 2024.

Bezzecchi initially suspected the tear-off may have come from Alex Marquez, although the Gresini rider denied responsibility, stating he removed his tear-off at the final corner, meaning it could not have been the same one.

Baca JugaAlex Marquez Tercepat Warm Up MotoGP Jerez 2026

According to Bezzecchi, the issue was caused by the tear-off becoming lodged in the front fairing before falling under the bike just as he stopped on the grid.

“For sure it’s not the best way to start. It’s something you can’t control. Alex didn’t do anything wrong, he just removed the tear-off,” Bezzecchi said.

He added that he had not seen the tear-off prior to the start, leaving him unable to react or avoid the situation.

“I didn’t see it. It was stuck in my front fairing, and when I stopped, it fell off and went under the bike. It’s something very difficult to predict,” he explained.

Beyond the start issue, Bezzecchi highlighted the complexity of the race conditions as rain disrupted the sprint, making strategic decisions difficult.

“In the dry, I think I could have stayed in the top five or six. But in these conditions, it’s very hard to predict. When the rain comes with slick tyres, it becomes a survival situation,” he said.

The Italian also described his crash later in the race, which he attributed to insufficient front tyre temperature after switching bikes.

“I’m okay, fortunately. But when I went out with the second bike, the front tyre was probably a bit too cold. I leaned into Turn 2 and lost the front,” he added.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s grand prix, Bezzecchi expects strong competition from several rivals who have shown competitive pace throughout the weekend.

“Clearly Alex, Marc, and Fabio Di Giannantonio were a bit faster. Jorge is also fast, the Hondas are not bad, and Zarco is there as well. My plan is to have a good race,” he concluded.