The VR46 rider, currently 79 points behind Bagnaia and 66 from Jorge Martin, needs to be within 73 points of the title leader after Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix to stay in the fight 🅷for Qatar.

Either way, Bezzecchi knows the title is a long shot. But with his fractured collarbone benefitting from a welcome weekend off, the Italian could well be a vic𓃲tory contender throughout the Sepang-Lusail-Valencia triple header that ends the season.

“Having a full week of recovery after three very busy weeks, like the previous ones, was a real t𒁃reat,” said Bezzecchi, the grand prix winner in Argentina, France and India.

“I rested and recovered as much as possible, recharged my batteries and I a🐈m rꦑeady to face this final stage of the season at my best.

“Sepang, along with many other tracks in this final phase of the season, is among m🔴y favourites.

“Very fast, with long straights, an aspect that could be favourable to our te💯chnical package.

“It won't be easy, but we wil✱l give our best to be among the protagonists from here to Valencia.”

Bezzecchi was fourth as a ro𒁏okie in last year’s Malaysian Grand Prix♊, when team-mate Luca Marini suffered his first non-score after almost two seasons in the premier class.

But Marini bounced back by leading the timesheets duriꩲng February’s official pre-season test at Sepang, suggesting he could well be a pole contender on Saturday.

“♔I'm always happy to𓄧 return to Sepang, one of my favourite tracks and where I achieved my first victory in the World Championship in 2018 in Moto2,” said Marini, also recovering from a fractured collarbone.

“I have always done well here,🔯 managing to adapt to the temperatures, which are often truly prohibitive.

“With the shoulder it's better, in Thai🎐land we managed Saturday's race and the weather conditions well, while in the race we struggl🃏ed more. However, the feelings are positive.

“It will be a busy three weeks, th🍨e aim is to close the season coll✱ecting as much as possible.”

While Bezzecchi looks relatively settled in ꦗthird, Marini is now just six points behind Maverick Vinales and seventh in the world championship.

Although Pramac is 96 clear of VR46 in the teams’ standings, Valentino Rossi’s squad will take a 30-point advantage over Lenovoꩲ Ducati into the final three rounds.