MotoGP News: Marco Bezzecchi Reveals Bad News Ahead of British Race After Engine Issues Ruin His Friday

Alex Harrington | Aug 2, 2024

Apr 14, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Marco Bezzecchi (72) of Italy and Pertamina Enduro VR46 rides in warmups before the start of the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

In the 2024 British MotoGP at Silverstone, Marco Bezzecchi faced a series of issues during the Friday practice sessions that could significantly impact his performance in the upcoming race. Despite the challenges, Bezzecchi demonstrated his sheer skill by securing a spot in Q2 after executing strong time attack laps.

"It was a crazy day, but fortunately the result was not bad," Bezzecchi told the media, reflecting on the day's tumultuous events. Earlier in the day, he encountered persistent engine problems that worsened in the afternoon session, seriously affecting his practice regime. "We had some issues this morning but then again in the afternoon. So we really couldn't make some laps in a row, I had to make some short runs and especially in the afternoon," he explained.

The technical difficulties were primarily related to the bike's engine, which lost power repeatedly, making it impossible for Bezzecchi to start it effectively.

"The bike was working, but there was no power when I was trying to bump start it," he described the frustrating ordeal that forced him to push the bike back to the pits himself, as he had exhausted his tire options for the session.

Despite these hurdles, Bezzecchi's efforts in the brief windows of functionality allowed him to show his capabilities.

"Fortunately, I was able to make some time attack laps and make it into the top 10 for Q2. For this, I am happy, but tomorrow we will have to work really hard for the race pace because we are a step behind," he acknowledged. "Honestly, I don't know because I never really got the chance to do a decent run.

"The main issue was never being able to get a good run on the same set of tires, so for the moment I don't know!"

The team's inability to pinpoint the malfunction adds another layer of uncertainty.

"I don’t have a clear understanding of what went wrong, as the team is still checking the issue," Bezzecchi admitted, hoping for a resolution. "So the team are checking the data, and they will find out what the problem is for sure. But the session was so short for me, and I couldn’t make a normal run because I only had the one bike, so I am not happy with the race pace."

As Bezzecchi and his team scramble to diagnose and address these significant technical issues, the pressure mounts. These engine and power output problems have severely limited his ability to prepare under race conditions, posing a substantial challenge as he heads the meat of the weekend.

The team's ability to resolve these issues quickly is crucial in setting Bezzecchi up for success and allowing him to compete effectively in what promises to be a highly demanding race at Silverstone.