Marco Bezzecchi on Phillip Island: “Great circuit, great races!”

If only, if only, if only… Had Marco Bezzecchi and Raul Fernandez not thrown away valuable points in the pile-up following the sprint start less than two weeks ago in Lombok – Bezzecchi, in particular, could have put himself back in the title race as early as the last Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island. However, following his zero points haul over the short distance at Lombok and the maximum haul on Sunday, he is now still 46 points adrift of the position he had taken over at the Brazilian Grand Prix, only to have to relinquish it again following his injury at the Sachsenring.

Ahead of the Phillip Island GP, the Italian appears both relieved and tense: “Since the Sachsenring, I’ve been working towards another GP victory – and I finally managed it in Indonesia. Achieving that means a great deal to me personally. Now it’s on to the next challenge, and Australia will be very important.”

A recurring theme – the fact that MotoGP is set to bid farewell to Phillip Island. Marco Bezzecchi also commented on the island finale. “Even though I’ve only had a short career in the World Motorcycle Championship, my emotions are always very strong when I hear and experience ‘Phillip Island’ – especially on a MotoGP bike. There are more impressions and memories here than anywhere else.”

The World Championship bronze medallist, who dominated the Sprint in 2025 and also finished on the podium in the GP despite a double long-lap penalty, continued: “When I think of this circuit, countless images spring to mind straight away. There have been so many extraordinary races here. Valentino’s battle against himself, Jack’s and Pecco’s photo finish, and countless brilliant duels. I also think that beautiful and special races tend to happen on beautiful circuits in particular. For me, it’s a privilege to race here.”

Die Mandalika-GP und letzten Phillip-Island-Sieger: Bezzechi & Fernandez

Foto: Gold and Goose

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Phillip Island: International Stream

MotoGP World Championship

23.10.2026 - 23:35

On the serious topic of the World Championship battle. The four Aprilia riders – who had finished 1st to 4th in the Grand Prix at Mandalika – had already met with the team strategist at Phillip Island for a debrief. Did the discussion also cover rules of conduct and a possible Aprilia strategy? After all, a World Championship title would represent Aprilia’s greatest success. Bezzecchi played down the question in typical Italian conversational style: “That wasn’t a meeting – we just had a few coffees together. Just as we always do. There’s always a chat with Trackhouse at every GP, because it makes sense for the Aprilia riders to coordinate.”

Marco Bezzecchi is well aware that this could be Aprilia’s decisive strength in the season’s final stretch. Whilst Ducati has to put all its eggs in Marc Márquez’s basket, Aprilia has four winners in its line-up. Take Indonesia, for example. On paper, everything points to Bezzecchi, Martin and co. in Australia too – but Phillip Island is, as we know, always good for a surprise.