MotoGP Qatar: Bezzecchi denies title ambitions influenced safety stance
Bezzecchi denies putting glory before safety (Credit: Apex Agency)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Marco Bezzecchi has denied claims his keenness to race in Qatar wasn’t down to his title chances.
Reports claimed the Aprilia rider, who is third in the riders’ championship, was one of the three not to sign a letter to the organisers against the race in the Middle East.
He has now confirmed as much, with the race in Lusail seeing Yamaha and much of the media refuse to travel due to safety concerns over the war in Iran.
Bezzecchi is keeping his championship hopes alive by a thread with three races to go, 67 points behind leader Marc Marquez who needs eight points in Qatar to take the Italian out of the running.
Marquez was believed to be one of the biggest voices against the race behind the scenes, and his non attendance could’ve seen Bezzecchi rocket up the standings.
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However, the 27-year-old has denied he was for the race due to sporting reasons.
Bezzecchi denies Qatar decision was motivated by MotoGP title fight
He said in a media session: “As I've always said, from the outside it might seem like I only did it for the title fight.
“It's true that, in the end, it suited me in that sense, but this issue had been raised a long time ago.”
Explaining his true reasoning, he added: “If the organisers thought coming here was the right decision, I don't think they're crazy enough to send us somewhere without being sure.
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“So I've always trusted them, and then, obviously, it became more of a necessity. But, in the end, I'm happy.”
Interestingly, Bezzecchi and Marquez have both been paired in Thursday televised press conferences as title protagonists, with Jorge Martin absent due to injury.
Marc Marquez takes different stance on Qatar safety concerns
The Qatar question has come up on multiple occasions, with the pair clearly taking differing stances.
Last time out in Malaysia, Bezzecchi argued it was fine to go, while Marquez simply replied: “We cannot say anything.”
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The same question arose in Qatar on Thursday, and while Bezzecchi didn’t answer, Marquez responded to a reporter who asked if he was ‘worried’ to be in Lusail.
He responded: “I mean, I would like to be in another place.
“For that reason, I arrived on the latest flight possible, and I will leave on the earliest flight possible. But we are here; we are ready to race, and with full concentration.”
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