Aprilia\u2019s Marco Bezzecchi admits he \u201cdidn\u2019t even expect\u201d to finish on the podium at the MotoGP Australian Grand Prix because of the double long lap penalty he had to serve.<\/p>\n
The factory Aprilia<\/a> star was slapped with two long laps for causing a collision with reigning world champion Marc Marquez<\/a> at the Indonesian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n This proved a major blow to his hopes of fighting for victory, with Bezzecchi the pre-race favourite after dominating the sprint on the Saturday from second on the grid at Phillip Island.<\/p>\n Leading in the early stages, Bezzecchi served his penalties on laps five and seven of 27, rejoining the race in sixth after the latter.<\/p>\n He fought back through to third, though he admits he wasn\u2019t able to fight for more as his early push before his first penalty used up a lot of his rear tyre.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been nice. Super tough, because I never thought, honestly, about the victory,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOnly the journalists thought about it. But I didn\u2019t even expect a podium.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, to be honest, I tried my best to be fast in the moment that I did the first long lap to not finish it inside the pack.<\/p>\n \u201cMy strategy worked well. To be completely honest, it was the strategy of my team – not me.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter the second long lap, I was only sixth, so better than I expected.<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n \u201cBut, having pushed so much in the beginning, I couldn\u2019t stress the tyres more.<\/p>\n \u201cIf not, I was going to be dead in the last laps. So, super happy when I fought with Pedro [Acosta].<\/p>\n \u201cI thought that fourth was the maximum. It\u2019s super hard to overtake him. Then I saw with Alex [Marquez] I was catching him. At least I tried.\u201d<\/p>\n