MotoGP 2026: a podium finish that serves as a major endorsement for Bezzecchi

The man of the day, for once, is the one who finished third. Beaten, but happy. Because for Marco Bezzecchi, it was important to feel alive again, to feel back on his feet after the fractures, the operations and four weekends without scoring a single point on Sunday. The pain is still there, as the ice on his shoulder after the exertion shows. But inside, there is a great deal of pride. On Saturday, after his Sprint podium finish, he had cried. On Sunday, after his podium finish in the main race – a podium he defended with every means at his disposal and every last drop of strength left in his arm muscles – he didn’t cry and managed a smile. He is still a happy man, a rider who, despite trailing Jorge Martin by 31 points in the standings, knows he can fight for the title right to the end. “I’m happy. I’m tired, I can’t take any more. But it’s brilliant, it was worth it,” explained Bezzecchi. “How did I defend third place? I wanted that podium so badly, I couldn’t give up. I was prepared to do anything, for all the work the team has put in and for all the effort I’ve put in myself. It was brilliant, I had a lot of fun.” At Silverstone, during the British Grand Prix, it was yet another Aprilia celebration. For the third time this year, the Noale-based manufacturer occupied the podium with its bikes: Fernandez, Martin and Bezzecchi. The satellite team, managed by the ever-reliable Davide Brivio, took the win, but once again it was a testament to the work done at the factory, which had already enabled them to triumph at Assen and Le Mans. Alex Márquez, riding the Team Gresini Ducati, finished just off the podium after a thrilling battle with Bezzecchi; his brother Marc finished only seventh, whilst Bagnaia crashed out yet again and can’t wait to bring his time with the manufacturer – which took him to two world titles before dropping him – to a close.

“I was very, very focused; I’d saved a bit with the tyres,” explained Bezzecchi. “Physically, I knew I’d slow down a bit, especially when Jorge overtook me and then Alex. I’d run out of steam, but I didn’t give up and it was a real thrill. After two operations in the space of 6–7 days, you generally don’t feel too well, and mentally things weren’t great either; a lot of things stay on your mind throughout the whole time you’re injured. So many doubts – it wasn’t easy.” He’s the man of the day even though he didn’t win and took home fewer points than his direct rival in the championship, who also happens to be his team-mate and who will be saying goodbye to everyone at the end of the year to join Yamaha. But Martin is used to winning when he already has one foot in another team. It’s almost a family speciality. Bezzecchi, however, after his injury and the summer break, needed answers – above all from his own body. The compound fracture to his left collarbone sustained at the German Grand Prix on 10 July first forced him to undergo surgery and then turned his recovery period into a race against time to get back to full fitness. It wasn’t a foregone conclusion; it wasn’t easy. But his body and mind responded: ‘present’. Now he’s back in the World Championship too. There are ten weekends left, ten Sprint races and ten full races. There’s plenty of time to enjoy himself.