Marco Bezzecchi returned to the top step at the Indonesian Grand Prix, but the most distinctive image from his cooldown lap was the pepper grinder in his hands. The Mandalika victory was his fifth of the season and his first since the Italian Grand Prix in May. It also gave a public ending to a joke that had been developing among his friends.

Bezzecchi explained that the group, which sometimes attends the races, has a habit of putting pepper on everything. The joke was passed on to Aprilia track analyst Matteo Baiocco and then included Andrea Kimi Antonelli, described as the Formula 1 championship leader. Baiocco was the person who surprised Bezzecchi with the grinder after the finish.

A win after a difficult stretch

The result arrived after four Sunday non-scores between Hungary and Germany, followed by a retirement while Bezzecchi was leading at Misano. He had injured his knee in a crash at the German Grand Prix, and the injury is still causing him trouble. That recent run made the Mandalika result more significant than a routine addition to his win tally.

Bezzecchi said the desire to win again was already on his mind during his hospital stay in July. His first thought there, he explained, was when he would be back to winning. The comeback was demanding and the fight at the front had been difficult, but his pace at Mandalika was strong enough to deliver the result.

The victory has revived Bezzecchi’s championship hopes without removing the deficit. He is still 46 points from the lead, with five rounds remaining in which to reduce the gap.