Starting from pole position at the PTT Thailand Grand Prix, Marco Bezzecchi (Redox PruestelGP) was hoping to make inroads into title rival Jorge Martin’s (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) Championship advantage.
With Martin’s left wrist injury giving him issues in Thailand, Bezzecchi was presented with a great chance to take the lead in the overall standings, but Round 15 would end in disaster for the Italian – compatriot Enea Bastianini (Leopard Racing) losing the front of his Honda machine after making an attempted pass at the final corner, taking Bezzecchi out in the process.
In the end, it was Martin who capitalised, taking the chequered flag in P4 to extend his standings lead to 26 points over Bezzecchi. To make matters worse for the Italian, Thai GP race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio (Del Conca Gresini Moto3) is now only three points behind his countryman in the title race.
“The problem is not so much the last corner,” explained Bezzecchi post-race. “During the race, there was a lot of unnecessary contact in my opinion, especially dangerous. This race is a bit of a mess because we had an excellent weekend there. But these are things that happen in the last corner.”
Bastianini was quick to go to the Redox PruestelGP garage to apologise to Bezzecchi and his team after the race: “It was a complicated race. At first, my leg hurt, and I got caught by a number of pilots. But gradually I started to feel better, which allowed me to come back. I really wanted this podium but arrived in the last I could not avoid the fall. I'm really sorry for hitting Marco. I ruined his race too, I know what you feel in these situations.”
No hard feelings between the two Italians, who will both be aiming for glory again at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan.