MotoGP championship leader Marco Bezzecchi insists that the end of his record-breaking race victory and laps-led streak has not increased the pressure on him as the 2026 season continues. The Italian’s dominant opening to the year—winning the first three grands prix and extending his run to five consecutive victories dating back to 2025—set new records for Aprilia, including 121 consecutive laps led, surpassing Jorge Lorenzo’s 2015 benchmark.
However, Bezzecchi’s run ended at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez, where he did not lead a single lap and saw his victory streak snapped by Gresini’s Alex Marquez. Despite this, Bezzecchi still finished second and extended his championship lead to 11 points over Aprilia teammate Jorge Martin.
Asked if the streak’s end has changed the level of pressure he feels, Bezzecchi was candid: “No, but I prefer to finish first and have everyone ask me, ‘You’ve made 20 million in a row’… But at the end, the pressure is the same. When you are on the grid on Sunday, you feel a lot of pressure, even when you start last on the grid, because the sensations you have inside your body are always the same from the first mini bike race to the last MotoGP race.”
Reflecting on the achievement, Bezzecchi added, “It was a wonderful moment for me, the first three races, leading all the laps. But it was normal that at some point this was going to finish. Fortunately, we ended in a decent way, making also a good race today. Hopefully, we can try to keep this level.”
Bezzecchi’s Jerez weekend was mixed, with his third sprint crash in four rounds, but his consistency on Sunday allowed him to maintain momentum in the championship race.
Looking ahead, Aprilia is already preparing for the future, debuting its prototype 850cc bike for the 2027 regulations, with Lorenzo Savadori tasked with the initial tests.
For Bezzecchi, the focus remains on consistency and performance, undeterred by the end of his historic streak as he continues to lead the MotoGP title fight.
