Bezzecchi calls sprints his 'weak link' in 2026 title bid

Aprilia rider Marco Bezzecchi says he is happy with his 2026 MotoGP season but admits sprint races have been a "weak link" that hindered his title challenge. The Italian won four grands prix in the first seven rounds and looked the favourite, but his challenge faded between the Hungarian and German Grands Prix after various incidents. He now trails Marc Marquez by 74 points and needs to win the final four races and hope Marquez fails to score.

Bezzecchi has six grand prix wins this season, including victory in Qatar last weekend, but has yet to win a sprint. Marquez has 10 sprint victories and seven Sunday wins. Bezzecchi said he would rather improve his sprint form than see the races scrapped, pointing to seven sprint podiums and a number of small mistakes and bad luck, including his tangle with Marquez in Qatar.