On a thrilling Wednesday morning in Malaysia, Marco Bezzecchi showcased his prowess by finishing sixth after clocking in an impressive 35 laps on the track. The Aprilia representative, riding the RSGP-26, expressed satisfaction with the latest developments, yet he is fully aware that there’s still significant work ahead to fine-tune the bike to his personal preferences and aspirations in the standings.
“I feel good, the bike isn’t bad, but there are still many things to test and plenty of laps to complete to provide the engineers with all the necessary data and information. We need a little more time to understand, but I can’t complain,” Bezzecchi stated during the lunch break, exuding a mix of optimism and determination.
When asked about specific areas of focus for improvement, he emphasized the need for a holistic approach. “We need to dedicate ourselves to all areas since there’s room for growth in every aspect. As always, when testing a new bike, you wish for something more. Right now, we’re concentrating on aerodynamics and other elements, making it challenging to gauge its performance clearly.”
Fans are eager to know whether the bike Bezzecchi requested last year has arrived. “Not yet, but don’t worry, it will come. I’ll let you know when I have it in my hands. It all depends on the company’s timeline,” he assured with a chuckle. The anticipation of a special livery was met with a playful response. “No, it was a bet for my first victory, so it will be completely black with the classic Aprilia graphics. But don’t worry, I have everything I need to build the bike I want,” he added with a grin.
Reflecting on his previous season’s momentum, Bezzecchi noted, “I didn’t say it would be ideal, but it would be fantastic to start the year that way.” When asked if he believes he’s on the right path, he responded cautiously, “It’s premature to say, but we’re working towards that and finding a solid foundation for the new bike to be as competitive as possible. It’s important to recognize that during tests, it’s tough to identify who is truly fast since everyone is working on different programs. The Thailand test will clarify things for us.”
As for his upcoming game plan, Bezzecchi indicated a strategic approach. “I think for now, we won’t be doing any Sprint simulations because we have a lot to test, and we need to spend our time on the track confirming as much material as possible. Tomorrow, it would be great to do longer runs to at least understand the tire behavior.”
Addressing the weather, he humorously remarked on the conditions. “I’m freezing, even on the bike I was quite cold (laughs). But honestly, it’s really nice. If only it could always be like this.”
With the introduction of new features on the tail section of the bike, Bezzecchi expressed his enthusiasm. “They look absolutely beautiful! On a serious note, we need to accumulate more laps to better understand them, but so far, it’s been good.”
In a light-hearted jab at the competitive spirit, he was asked if he had developed a wheelie mapping for his bike. “No, but fortunately, our bike has a craving for those and can deliver,” he quipped, leaving fans excited about what lies ahead for the talented rider and the Aprilia team.
