2022 rookie profile: Marco Bezzecchi

Delve into the Italian’s journey to the premier class as he gets set to compete on VR46 Racing Team’s Ducati alongside Marini

After 14 podiums – including three wins – in Moto2™, Marco Bezzecchi is set to make his MotoGP™ debut with VR46 Racing Team in 2022 on a Ducati. Ahead of the Italian’s first premier class season, get to know Bezzecchi’s journey to MotoGP™ a little better.

Bursting onto the Italian scene as runner-up in the CIV Moto3™ title in 2014, Bezzecchi then went one better in his second year in the series as he took the title with an incredible seven wins. After two appearances in Moto3™ on the world stage with San Carlo Team Italia in 2015, Bezzecchi also did two further races in 2016 with Mahindra Racing, as well as showing good promise in the FIM CEV Repsol – picking up a best of P7 – and winning in both his appearances back in the CIV in Italy.

For 2017, Bezzecchi moved up to Moto3™ full time to partner compatriot and former CIV rival Manuel Pagliani at CIP. Fighting for Rookie of the Year, the Italian just missed out but took a first podium finish, and moved to Redox PrüstelGP for 2018. Nine podiums in 2018, including three victories, saw Bezzecchi mount a lightweight class title assault against eventual Champion Jorge Martin. Despite missing out on the title, a hugely impressive Moto3™ campaign means Bezzecchi secured a Moto2™ seat with Red Bull KTM Tech3 in the Moto2™ class for 2019.

Marco Bezzecchi, Sky Racing Team VR46, Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas

A pair of top 10s in Assen and Thailand were his best results with the French team, as KTM’s Moto2™ chassis encountered plenty of issues compared to the likes of Kalex and Speed Up. Bezzecchi switched to SKY Racing Team VR46's Kalex heading into 2020, and there, he earned seven podium finishes, including two victories in Styria and Valencia. His consistency allowed him to keep fighting for the title, but two crashes in the last five races relegated him to fourth place.

In 2021, after his progress and the jump of several rivals to the premier class, he was a clear frontrunner for the title. Little did he – and everyone else – know how strong both Remy Gardner and Red Bull KTM Ajo rookie Raul Fernandez would be though. Nevertheless, Bezzecchi picked up seven podiums, including a second consecutive Styrian GP victory, to earn P3 in the overall standings. Now, a season-long date with Ducati alongside VR46 Academy friend Luca Marini awaits as the duo make up the first VR46 Racing Team line-up.

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