It was already clear during the two days of testing at Buriram that Bezzecchi and Aprilia would be tough opponents for everyone. Today, in pre-qualifying, the situation became even clearer. Marco wasn't content with setting the fastest time and smashing the circuit record, but he also managed to beat Marc Marquez by more than four tenths of a second and Di Giannantonio by almost half a second. Binder, eighth in the standings, is already more than a second behind him.
The prospects for tomorrow are not good, they are excellent. Bez, however, has no intention of getting carried away. He remains calm, as he did in the afternoon when the weather conditions made more than one rider nervous."It was a good Friday. I started off on the right foot in the morning and managed to carry that good feeling into the afternoon," he stated. "To be honest, I would have liked a little more in terms of pace because I don't feel perfect with the soft tyre, even though the weather conditions were complicated in pre-qualifying, with strong winds and even a few drops of rain. We had to change our plans a bit during the session, and the team reacted well. In the end, I can't complain, and I hope to continue like this over the next two days."
Do you really have doubts about your pace?
"The pace isn't too bad, but I was more satisfied in the morning, partly because of the conditions. We still need to work on it."
You were more than four tenths behind Marc Marquez...
"You'll see that tomorrow, when it counts, everyone will be there. It's just that today, some people still had to settle in, some people didn't get their lap in, and the session was nerve-wracking because you had to find the right moment to go out."
What did you say when you saw 1'28.526 on the dashboard of your Aprilia?
"Come on! ( laughs)."
Are you still convinced that Marquez is the favorite for the GP?
"Yes, I haven't changed my mind because, in the end, Marc is the most experienced rider and the most successful. Since last year, we've all seen that even on weekends when he's not on form on Friday, he still manages to get there. He's not only the reigning champion, but also the strongest. That's why I think he's the favourite. Obviously, I hope to be able to fight with him and the others."
Everyone is talking about you. Is that satisfying?
"I'm pleased, but it doesn't make any difference. It's nice, but it doesn't change my mood: I try to do my job, the best I can at home and on the track."
How do you feel about 2025?
"Last year I also did well in testing, even though we struggled a bit more, it was part of a process. But they're not two different worlds, it's simply the result of hard work. Anyway, it's Friday, let's stay calm."
Is the 2026 RS-GP a success?
"The bike works pretty well, we just need to adjust a few things, but the tests here have helped. The character of the Aprilia has remained the same."
You mentioned the strong wind. Do all the wings on the Aprilia affect it in those conditions?
"The conditions weren't critical in terms of aerodynamics, but because of the strong wind, it was the same for everyone. There was a moment during the session when no one could improve, not even me, despite having new tyres. After a few minutes, however, it was possible. The key was finding the right moment to make the time attack in the afternoon. I was worried about the rain, so I brought the time forward, even though we had to deal with the wind, especially by adjusting the braking point."