Agencies
Santiago Del Estero, Argentina
VR46 Ducati rider Bezzecchi made an immediate impression on the MotoGP paddock in his debut season in 2022 when he scored a podium at Assen on Sunday.
Riding the championship-winning 2022-spec Ducati for his sophomore campaign with Valentino Rossi’s team, Bezzecchi eased to a maiden grand prix victory at a wet Rio Hondo to add to the second he claimed in Saturday’s sprint.
Nailing his launch off the line from second on the grid, Bezzecchi went unbothered throughout the 25-lap grand prix to lead a Ducati 1-2-3 from a hard-charging Johann Zarco and poleman Alex Marquez.
Bezzecchi, 24, also took the lead in the overall standings after world champion Francesco Bagnaia, the winner of last weekend’s season-opener in Portugal, crashed off the circuit while running in second place before recovering to finish in 16th.
Bezzecchi had started in second place on the grid but swept past Marquez on the opening lap and was rarely troubled to take the chequered flag by 4.085sec.
"Normally I’m not very good when it rains, but today the sensations were incredible,” said the Italian who now has a nine-point lead in the championship.
South African KTM rider Brad Binder, who won the sprint race on Saturday after starting from 15th place on the grid, was 17th and last on Sunday after a fall on the opening lap.
Former MotoGP world champion Joan Mir missed Sunday’s race due to injuries suffered in the sprint, his Honda team announced.
The Spaniard, who won the MotoGP title in 2020, crashed in the opening lap of Saturday’s sprint.
Results (Top 5)
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 44 min 28.518 sec, 2. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) at 4.085, 3. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 4.681, 4. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Yamaha) 7.581, 5. Jorge Martín (ESP/Pramac) World championshipStandings:
1. Marco Bezzecchi (ITA/Ducati-VR46) 50 pts, 2. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA/Ducati) 41, 3. Johann Zarco (FRA/Ducati-Pramac) 35, 4. Alex Marquez (ESP/Ducati-Gresini) 33, 5. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Aprilia) 32, 6. Jack Miller (AUS/KTM) 25.