MotoGP Austria: Marco Bezzecchi reveals 'Plan A' - but there's still no agreement with Ducati

Marco Bezzecchi insists his ‘Plan A’ is still to stay with the VR46 team in MotoGP next season.
Marco Bezzecchi, Austrian MotoGP, 17 August
Marco Bezzecchi, Austrian MotoGP, 17 August

That’s despitꦛe suggestions from Ducati that they cannot provide factory-spec machinery for the impressive young Italian unless he leaves Valentino Rossi’s team.

Like Luca Marini, Bezzecchi currently uses yeꦺar-old Desmosedicis at VR46, while the official Duꦿcati team and Pramac have access to the latest bikes.

Bezzecchi, who has already taken two grand prix wins during his second MotoGP season and currently holds third in the title chase, has shown he deserveܫs a machinery upgrade.

But Ducati insists they cannot eqꦍuip five riders with GP24s meaning Bezzecchi’s choice would appear to be a move to Pramac, in place of Johann Zarco, or remaining on older bikes at VR46.

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“𝓡As you already know my plan A would be to stay in Mooney VR46,” Bezzecchi said at t𒁃he Red Bull Ring on Thursday.

“The Academy, my manage꧑ment is trying to work to find a better solution for🤪 me.

“I think in B𒊎arcelona [September 1-3] I can give you a precise decision.”

While Bezzecchi's VR46 management is still presumably trying to get Ducati to change its stance on a fifth GP24&❀nbsp;entry - "We did that for 2022, it didn't work” - possible middle-ground solutions could be a factory contract and guaranteed early upgrades for a GP23 at VR46 next season.

Bezzecchi had closed the points gap to Ducati’s reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia with second place be🌺hind Alex Marquez in𓃲 the Silverstone Sprint but lost all the ground gained - and more - when he fell behind Bagnaia in the Sunday race.

“At Silverstone unfortunately I made a mistake which created a crash. The speed was there, my confidence was 😼there,” Bezzecchi said.

“I can’t wait to jump back on this is a track I really like. There are differꦓent bankings on the track, and very hard braking. I like hard braking, it’s a strong point where the Ducati can work well.”

Bezzecchi has won at the Red Bull Rin𒀰g in both Moto3 and Moto2.

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