Fair race for Marco Bezzecchi in Indonesia. In a lackluster season – compared to his fabulous 2023 season – the Italian performed very well in Mandalika from Friday to Sunday. However, it was impossible for him to compete with his teammates equipped with Ducati Desmosedici GP24s. Franco Morbidelli, his friend from the VR46 Academy, finished ahead of him on a regular basis, a result that would have been difficult to predict last season. Bezzecchi has the feeling that it was difficult to do better: the appearance of the race does not prove him wrong.
The Italian, who undoubtedly regrets the absence of India from the calendar, spoke at length in the columns of Speedweek. He notably returned to the difference between the GP23 and the GP24. « With new tires, our GP23 has more traction. We can follow the drivers who have a GP24. But when the grip decreases, we are at the end, the last generations are just fantastic. They have excellent traction, good speed entering and exiting turns. They can also play with the accelerator in full curve »
he affirmed, which helps to understand this difference which is so talked about.
Obviously, it is on these crucial points that the difference is made. « All GP23 drivers complain of the same problem. The character of the bike is not the right one, even if there are circuits on which it adapts better” he continued. “In fast corners, the rear wheel transfers so much pressure to the front wheel that the bike understeers enormously, it feels like you’re driving a rally car. This understeer gives graining to the tires, especially the hard ones, which deteriorate faster than soft ones » he added. This is a known problem, which Marc Marquez frequently complains about.
Photo :
Ducati VR46
The Italian still returned to his race, finishing in fifth position. A good result, on the scale of his season.
« Unfortunately, I had a problem with my Ride Height Device initially. There’s always something to ruin a weekend. Afterwards, I was stuck behind Morbidelli for a long time, which is even more critical for the tires. I tried to get past him, but it didn’t work » he concluded.
Do you think Marco Bezzecchi can do even better in Japan? Tell us in the comments!
MotoGP Indonesia Grand Prix 2024 result:
Ranking credit: MotoGP.com
Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport
