In 2015, Valentino Rossi maddened the crowds that were disturbed in the circuit of Rio Hondo Hot Springs when he celebrated that iconic victory with the shirt of the Argentine team and the recognition of Diego Maradona.
Around those times, another Italian, Marco Bezzecchi, made his first competitions in Moto3, the first step of the World Cup ladder, dreaming of reaching, at some point, the maximum expression of motorcycling. Three years later, that young man, born on November 12, 1998 in Rimini, achieved his first Moto3 victory in Argentina.
That triumph marked his sports campaign so much, that a tattoo was stamped on one arm with the drawing of the Santiago circuit. “It’s weird, but this morning I woke up with a special, strange feeling. I felt that something could happen. And that the condition was not the best, because there was rain and, to be honest, I don’t do very well underwater,” Bezzecchi confessed, as soon as he crossed the sentencing line and managed to his first success in MotoGP, right in the same place where he had his triumphant baptism in Moto3. “Surely now I will get another tattoo, with the Argentine track,” he advanced.
The same guy who, like all Italians and almost all motorcycling lovers in the world, grew up with the figure of the great Valentino as a guide. And fate crossed that idol, since after ascending through the categories and going through the “doctor” Academy, he finally landed in the team that is under the supervision of the great legend, the Mooney VR46 Racing Team. And now, this victory, with Rossi’s team.
“I’m very happy. I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe it. This morning, when we warmed up, she was talking to the bike. It’s an incredible feeling”, highlighted Bezzecchi, who, after receiving the respective trophies on the podium, received a very special gift: an Argentine national team shirt signed by Lionel Messi.
“Messi is the greatest in football, as Valentino is the one with motorcycles. The World Cup final was watched by all the members of the Valentino Academy, along with Rossi. That’s why this is incredible, because it’s a way to unite both,” said Marco.
Bezzecchi dominated from start to finish a race that lacked great emotions, although the expectation was maintained in the 24 laps, due to the state of the track, which varied according to the amount of water that fell.
Finally, after seeing the checkered flag, he caressed his Ducati. He ran his hands over the handlebars and over the number 72 that dominates the front of the machine. A number that is more similar to 12, his favorite number, than to 72. But since Maverick Viñales already uses it, he appealed to the graphic resemblance.
About the end, the emotion was provided by the Frenchman Johan Zarco, the French rider who achieved his 16th podium in MotoGP but still cannot win. He surpassed the Spanish Alex Márquez in the final meters. All of them, pilots with Ducati.
“The circuit had a good grip despite the water. After Pecco’s crash, I saw that he was close to the podium and towards the end he had great pace. This is a very good podium, for the comeback, and for the 20 points”, commented Zarco.
The surprise of the competition was the fall of the champion, the Italian Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaiawhat he lost control of his Ducati at turn 13 when he was running second. A blow that delayed him to the bottom. He finally arrived in 16th place, in a poor race of participants, due to numerous absences (see separate).
MotoGP passed through Argentina on its second World Cup date. Although it seems that some national categories were infected, when they exaggerate the number of spectators in the circuits.
According to Dorna, the company that manages the destinations in the category, reported that there were 186,038 people, counting all days of activity. And according to the international company, it was close to the 2022 record, with 186,759 people.
No one could believe these records. Clearly there was a strong decline compared to previous years. Local organization sources admitted a 15% drop as of Saturday night. In addition to the absence of pilots due to injuries, at the last minute the weather conspired due to rain. Beyond the numbers, this time it was noted that there were fewer people than in other editions, both at the racetrack and in the city. And this is how the merchants from Santiago highlighted it.
“Inflation made the Grand Prix difficult for us,” commented a member of the organization, who alluded to the economic setbacks the country is going through. In fact, the exchange difference with neighboring countries, plus the promotional work that was carried out in specific places, such as Brazil, made it possible for many foreign tourists to compensate for the situation of local supporters. There was a presence of Brazilians, Uruguayans, Bolivians and Chileans.
Marco Bezzecchi, new winner in MotoGP history. As Aleix Espargaró did in 2022, when he learned the honeys of triumph, also in Termas de Río Hondo. This time, that dreamer, who encouraged Valentino Rossi through the television, had his triumphant baptism in the highest category. And he is the new leader of the championship, with 50 points, 9 more than Bagnaia. And just as the legend Rossi celebrated on that historic day with the Argentine shirt, now the pilot of his team emulated him with the light blue and white, on the same podium in Santiago, with the signature of Messi
