Marco Bezzecchi takes the first VR46 pole in the premier class in qualifying for the Thailand Grand Prix, but initially knew nothing about it
While Valentino Rossi is competing in the GT World Challenge (GTWC) season finale in Barcelona this weekend, his VR46 team has managed to score its first pole in the premier class in the World Motorcycle Championship. MotoGP rookie Marco Bezzecchi is the one who made the milestone in qualifying for the Thai Grand Prix in Buriram.
Before that, Bezzecchi had already made it onto the front row of the grid twice in Mugello as second fastest and in Misano as third fastest. In addition, team-mate Luca Marini contributed two more front row finishes at Termas de Rio Hondo and also Mugello. On Saturday, VR46 celebrated their first pole.
Bezzecchi is already the tenth different pole-setter of the current 2022 MotoGP season, which is a new record, but not the only one set by “Bez” on Saturday in Buriram.
“Of course I am happy to have given the team their first pole. They simply deserved it,” said Bezzecchi, who had already claimed the first MotoGP podium for VR46 in the premier class at Assen at the end of June. “I didn’t expect pole today. I knew my lap was quite good, but I was surprised at Parc Ferme. It was very emotional. “
In fact, immediately after burning his Q2 lap time of 1’29.671 into the asphalt, Bezzecchi didn’t realise he was the pole setter. “Because the sun was so blinding, I couldn’t see anything on the big screens around the track,” he remarks.
Bezzecchi, who rides a Ducati Desmosedici GP21 from last year in the VR46 team, was not only 0.021 seconds faster than Jorge Martin on the current GP22 of the Pramac team with his Q2 time of 1:29.671 minutes. Bezzecchi’s time also means a new MotoGP track record at the Buriram International Circuit.
Since the chicane was installed at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (Austria) this year and is ridden by motorbikes, Buriram is the fastest track on the MotoGP calendar. Bezzecchi has now increased the lead over Phillip Island (Australia) in terms of average speed with the new record lap.
