Marco Bezzecchi has pushed back against Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi’s claim that his 50-point deficit to Marc Marquez in the MotoGP championship is “nothing”. The Aprilia rider arrives at the Malaysian Grand Prix trailing the championship leader by half a hundred points.

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Tardozzi confidently claimed the margin could be erased given Bezzecchi’s supposed potential to win every remaining race.

“50 points is 50 points”

“Not everything he said is true; 50 points is 50 points,” Bezzecchi declared during Thursday’s pre-event press conference at Sepang. While he expressed appreciation for Tardozzi’s faith in his abilities, the Italian was clear that closing such a deficit will be a monumental challenge.

“It’s not like zero. It’s true that in races anything can happen. And I really appreciate what he said and what they think about me. But it will never be easy. Anyway, I’m not complaining. I just want to do my best.”

Bezzecchi’s campaign has hit turbulence recently, but his form last season in Portugal and Valencia, where he secured victories en route to third in the standings, remains a beacon of possibility. With teammate Jorge Martin sidelined due to injury, Bezzecchi stands as Aprilia’s leading contender for the 2026 title.

Yet he acknowledges the stiff competition from not only Marquez but also Martin, who remains a formidable threat despite his current physical setbacks.

“This gap is a bit of a limit right now,” Bezzecchi admitted. “If I want to stay in the fight until the maths [doesn’t] give me the possibility, it’s better to try to don’t lose many points. Obviously, it’s not easy because everyone is super quick. Obviously Marc, but also Jorge as well; don’t forget about him. So, the mood is this, to try to make the best every session, to try to be competitive and try to fight for good positions.”

Modest expectations at Sepang

The Sepang circuit has historically been a challenging venue for Bezzecchi and the Aprilia squad. “I don’t really know because also last year in the pre-season we felt better than in the race weekend. So, our expectations are not so high. I don’t want to create too many thoughts for myself. I just want to jump on the bike and see how I feel,” he explained.

He also noted that the winter testing this year showed improvement over last season, yet cautioned that testing conditions rarely translate directly to race performance.

Bezzecchi’s pragmatic approach contrasts sharply with Ducati’s optimistic proclamations. His determination to close the gap is evident, but he remains grounded about the uphill battle ahead. “Let’s be focused and try to start in the best way possible,” Bezzecchi concluded, setting the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested showdown at Sepang.