Marco Bezzecchi produced the perfect ride to win the inaugural Indian Grand Prix at Greater Noida’s Buddh International Circuit. The Mooney VR46 Racing rider was dominant from start to finish at the front as he left the chasing pack in his wake. Championship leader Francesco Bagnaia finished second on his Ducati for a hat-trick of podium finishes this season. At the same time, Jorge Martin closed the gap to the Italian at the top of the standings.
Bagnaia and Bezzecchi were toe-to-toe in the race’s opening stages, with each rider taking turns at the head of the pack. But on lap 13, the reigning world champion suffered a massive error as he attempted to take a tight line in Turn 4. The mistake threw him off his bike, fracturing his left collarbone, and he was forced to retire from the race.
Bezzecchi took advantage to pull away from the Ducati, with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo settling for third. Bezzecchi’s victory at the India GP puts him top of the standings, just 13 points clear of Martin.
Luca Marini was the best-placed Honda, finishing in fourth on his way to a twelfth overall result at the season’s first European stop. The youngster, who won the Moto2 title last year, struggled to find a good set-up on his new machine in Portimao and Le Mans but has now started to improve. The rookie climbed back up the field from eighth on the grid in Saturday’s sprint, where he was involved in a collision with teammate and fellow Honda rider Pol Espargaro.
The GP23 field was reduced to 21 riders after two retirements and a 15-minute wet session during the weekend. Jaume Masia made the most of a front-row start to win the Moto3 race, with Kaito Toba in second and Ayumu Sasaki in third after a scrappy race.