Too slow" Marco Bezzecchi baffled by lack of pace in Japanese GP sprint

Marco Bezzecchi said he has no clear explanation for being “one second too slow” in the Japanese Grand Prix sprint, despite strong pace on the same Michelin medium rear tyre in practice. In Saturday’s half-distance race at Motegi, he was one of only two riders to choose the medium rear (the other was Jack Miller of Pramac Yamaha). After a crash at the start triggered by Alex Marquez eliminated three rivals, Bezzecchi still dropped back through the race and finished sixth aboard the factory Aprilia. Marc Marquez won, while Jorge Martin took third despite late issues on the soft rear. Bezzecchi, 27, admitted soft might have been better but said his medium decision was calculated. His best sprint time was 1:43.873, about five tenths off his FP2 pace, and he said he’d need to “check everything” for the difference.