Bezzecchi admits after the Sachsenring opener: “I had to suffer a bit!”

Marco Bezzecchi successfully completed the first day of MotoGP practice at the Sachsenring despite suffering from significant physical discomfort. The Aprilia works rider returned to the track for the first time since his heavy crash at Assen and fought his way to eighth place in qualifying. Finishing 0.602 seconds behind the fastest time set by Ducati star Marc Marquez, the Italian secured direct entry into Q2, as did his Aprilia team-mates Jorge Martin, Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura.

Bezzecchi had already anticipated before the weekend that Friday would be anything but easy for him. After the rigours of the track, this assessment proved correct. “As expected, it was a tough day and I had to suffer a bit. Physically speaking, it was a really difficult day,” explained Bezzecchi.

Bezzecchi pushed himself to his physical limits in the hunt for fast lap times

It was the decisive final phase of qualifying in particular that pushed the 27-year-old to his limits. “I really had to dig deep, especially during the final push for a fast lap,” he reported. “I managed to put in a few good laps, but I’m still not consistent enough. By the time I moved on to the decisive lap time chase, I was already struggling physically. But all in all, we achieved our goal and made it straight through to Q2. That’s why I’m happy, but I’m also pleased with how the bike feels.”

Following the setbacks of recent weeks in Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, Bezzecchi’s main priority at the Sachsenring is damage limitation. The summer break, which follows immediately afterwards, should give him some much-needed time to recover. “We have to try and salvage as much as possible. It’s tough, but that’s the way it is,” the Aprilia rider made clear.

Clarification from Bezzecchi: Mentally, there’s no problem

Whilst physical limitations are currently holding him back, Bezzecchi does not see his mental state – having recently had to cope with some major setbacks – as a problem. “Mentally, it’s not that bad; for me, it’s more the physical side that’s a problem. I’ve already been through some mentally challenging situations in the past. That’s why I can say that my biggest problem at the moment is my physical condition.”

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From his point of view, qualifying directly for Q2 was all the more important. “Qualifying is the first crucial step, because it determines the starting grid for two races. That’s why it’s important. Then it’ll be a case of getting the most out of it.” With a good starting position, Bezzecchi hopes to be able to compensate, at least in part, for his physical limitations and to secure as strong a result as possible before the summer break.