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Neil Hodgson lauds Marco Bezzecchi win at Grand Prix of Brazil - ‘Didn’t put a wheel wrong’
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Published 22/03/2026 at 20:56 GMT
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TNT Sports pundits Neil Hodgson, Sylvain Guintoli and Michael Laverty all came together to praise Marco Bezzecchi after his triumph on Sunday at the Grand Prix of Brazil. The trio commented on his riding skill, while also noting that the Aprilia team and manufacturer had made great progress in the past two years. Bezzecchi has now won each of the past four full-length MotoGP races.
Highlights: Bezzecchi makes it four in a row as Marquez slips to fourth in Brazil
Video credit: TNT Sports
TNT Sports pundit Neil Hodgson was full of praise for Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi as he won the Grand Prix of Brazil on Sunday.
The Italian made it four consecutive Grand Prix wins having finished fourth in Saturday’s Sprint.
However, he was able to qualify in second place, behind Fabio Di Giannantonio, and took the lead on the first lap.
Squabbles between the chasing pack allowed him to race assuredly and build up his lead throughout, and most of the action was for the places between second and fourth.
Aprilia team-mate Jorge Martin claimed second and Di Giannantonio battled to third place, relegating Ducati Lenovo’s world champion Marc Marquez to fourth spot.
Bezzecchi now looks like the man to beat after the early action in the season so far and Hodgson was impressed by the Italian.
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'They support me like Hell' - Bezzecchi pays tribute to Aprilia after Grand Prix of Brazil triumph
Video credit: TNT Sports
He said: ”He had that fully under control. He eased off early in the race to save some tyre, while still having a one-and-a-half-second gap. Then just at that big point, when he turned the thumbscrews, then he just stretched the lead, then he just controlled it. Didn’t put a wheel wrong."
Looking ahead to next weekend's action in the US, he added: ”We're going to find out a lot next weekend, I'd say. That's going to be the first time we've not got the heat-treated tyre.
”We've got it here. That tyre is the heat-treated one. It seems that Aprilia in recent races have got the most out of it.”
‘Bezzecchi is just one step ahead’ - Laverty thrilled by Aprilia
Hodgson’s colleague Sylvain Guintoli backed him up and declared that the Aprilia rider now had to be considered as one of the favourites for this season’s title.
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”What a performance, again,” he commented. ”Four in a row for Bezzecchi. We keep saying is he a real contender for the championship? I think there's no doubt now.
”They've made so much progress and Bezzecchi, coming from so far away - on Friday he had no feel - they came up with the goods. He pushed as well, and together they came up with the win.”
Michael Laverty agreed, saying Bezzecchi had the precise riding style that made the most of an Aprilia bike that was outperforming the other manufacturers’ bikes.
He said: ”He looks so in control, doing everything right. He's pinpoint accurate. He stops the bike, turns it, accelerates so well.
”They’re getting more out of the package on a Sunday. Bezzecchi is just one step ahead.”
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