Mahindra hails "emerging talent" Bezzecchi after Barcelona

Bezzecchi made a rocketing start from 25th on the grid to move up to 20th position, before scything his way further through traffic to put himself in contention of scoring points.

On the final lap, the 18-year-old overtook three riders in one corner to finish as the top Mahindra rider in 14th and add two championship points to his tally. It was his second top-15 result of the season after Le Mans.

Bezzecchi’s masterful ride earned him admiration from Choonia, who hailed him as an “emerging talent”.

“It’s welcome (sic) to see Marco emerging as a talent that we need to groom and nurture,” he said.

“Not only today, he has shown the ability to come back fighting and post good results. Now we need to work with him to improve his qualifying positions."

Choonia, however, felt that factory-supported Aspar rider Lorenzo Dalla Porta should have joined Bezzecchi in the list of points scorers.

Dalla Porta had started the race from 14th on the grid, but started losing positions rapidly due to lack of grip.

The Italian eventually crossed the line in a distant 19th place, six seconds away from the last points finisher.

“I couldn't give my all today,” he said after the race. “ I don't know why but I had no grip and I got slower as the laps went by.

“I tried to push over the first few laps but by lap four the tyre was already giving up on me and I couldn't go any quicker.

“It had been a positive weekend up to that point so we are left with a bitter taste but now we just have to start looking ahead to the next race and think positive.”