Valentino Rossi rediscovers himself as a driver in Spielberg

Valentino Rossi drove Marco Bezzecchi back to the pits.

Curious episode in the final of the second MotoGp free practice session in Austria, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg: Marco Bezzecchi, a few minutes after setting the best time of the day, ran out of fuel on his Ducati in the second sector, right at the point where, beyond the safety barriers, Valentino Rossi was watching the session.

The nine-time world champion didn’t think twice and, getting on a scooter, gave his team rider a ride, allowing him to quickly return to the pits while the marshals removed from the danger zone the bike of the Mooney VR46 Racing Team, founded by the ‘Doctor’ himself.

Bezzecchi was thus able to immediately exchange a few thoughts with Valentino Rossi about the session that saw him excel with a time of 1:28.533, 44 thousandths faster than Maverick Viñales, second on an Aprilia, and 288 thousandths faster than Pecco Bagnaia, standard-bearer of the official Ducati and World Championship leader.

In addition to the three centaurs already mentioned, Brad Binder (KTM), Johann Zarco (Ducati Pramac), Jorge Martin (Ducati Pramac), Aleix Espargaró (Aprilia), Alex Marquez (Ducati Gresini), Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia RNF) enter the top 10 of riders already qualified for Saturday’s Q2.