RACING: Bezzecchi dominates MotoGP Brazil for fourth straight victory

Marco Bezzecchi delivered a commanding performance on Sunday, cruising to victory at the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix to secure his fourth consecutive Grand Prix win and take control of the championship standings.

The 27-year-old Italian, who started second on the grid, wasted no time asserting himself at the front. He quickly seized the lead and maintained a dominant pace throughout the race, marking his second victory of the season following his triumph at the Thailand Grand Prix earlier this month.

Aprilia celebrated a strong outing as Jorge Martin completed a 1-2 finish for the team, while VR46 Racing’s Fabio Di Giannantonio held off a late challenge from Marc Marquez to secure third place on the podium.

Adjustments pay off

Bezzecchi’s victory came after a challenging start to the weekend, with wet conditions disrupting Friday’s practice sessions. The Italian admitted that both he and his team had to make key adjustments to stay competitive.

“It was a tough weekend,” Bezzecchi said. “Friday was especially difficult, and it wasn’t easy to keep the motivation high. But the team did a wonderful job, and I pushed myself to the limit to make up for it.”

He added that small changes to his riding style proved crucial. “I adjusted some details, and from this morning I felt better. That’s when I thought maybe I could fight. It turned out to be an amazing race.”

The win sees Bezzecchi move ahead of Pedro Acosta in the standings, opening up an 11-point lead in the championship race.

In an emotional moment, Bezzecchi dedicated his victory to his friend Roberto Lunadei, a 42-year-old mechanic who recently passed away following a road accident.

Track concerns impact race

The race at the Ayrton Senna Circuit was shortened from 31 laps to 23 due to concerns over track degradation and extreme heat in Goiania. The decision was announced shortly before the race began.

Issues with the circuit had already disrupted the weekend, as Saturday’s sprint race was delayed by more than an hour after officials discovered a significant hole near the starting line, prompting urgent repairs.

Despite the challenges, the event marked a historic return for MotoGP to Brazil for the first time in over two decades.

Next stop: United States

The championship now moves from South America to North America, with riders set to compete in the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, from March 27–29, where Bezzecchi will look to extend his winning streak and strengthen his hold on the title race. -Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne/Reuters