MotoGP: Bezzecchi, the loose cannon of 2023 who dreams of victory

The 2023 MotoGP championship looks set to be a real show, and one of the names on everyone’s lips is Marco Bezzecchi. And not (just) because he forms part of the Italian fleet, but rather because we can expect a very positive season from the youngster.

Expectations are high following a very strong 2022 season in which Marco was named rookie of the year, the icing on the cake in a season that brought few negatives. Right from the first races, Bezzecchi demonstrated impressive speed and, race by race, we saw him start to build up that “MotoGP mentality” that only experience can bring.

Excellent results in 2022, now to aim high

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The results? A first reigning class podium already during the first half of the season, at Assen, and a subsequent confidence boost that saw Marco shine on several occasions. Bez himself was surprised by his performance overseas, the Thai round bringing his first pole position in the category. This was followed up with a fourth-place finish in Sepang, the Italian even inserting himself into the duel between Fabio Quartararo and Pecco Bagnaia for a few laps.

And Marco does not just have the ambition, but also the means. Confirmed by the Mooney VR46 team for a second season gives him a solid base from which to restart, with the advice of crew chief Matteo Flamigni on the one side, and the GP22, the latest title-winning bike, on the other. As was the case for Enea Bastianini in 2022, the first races could serve as a real opportunity for Bez, who can count on a very high-performance bike as he takes on riders still getting to grips with ‘fledgling’ 2023 prototypes.

Possessing the experience, means and talent, Marco can build his 2023 season on these strong foundations. It’s too soon to offer any kind of prediction about the final results of course, but a top ten finish can be the only goal, as well as a desire to secure consistently strong results.