Marco Bezzecchi took a double long lap penalty and still found himself on the podium at the Australian Grand Prix.

After winning the Sprint Race on Saturday at the Australian Grand Prix, things were not going to be so easy for Marco Bezzecchi on Sunday.

The Italian rider arrived at Phillip Island with a double long lap penalty hanging over him after his collision with Marc Marquez at the Indonesian Grand Prix two weeks beforehand.

Bezzecchi was not able to win the Australian Grand Prix, but was able to take his double long lap penalty and secure a third-place finish for the Aprilia Racing squad.

"I have to say that I am extremely happy," Marco Bezzecchi told TNT Sports after the Australian Grand Prix.

"I did not expect to even fight in the top four or five. Because this track is complicated in terms of tyre management, so having the penalty, I knew I was going to be in the group. We tried to plan a strategy, and when they explained it to me, it was cool for me.

"I did my best to do it, and the key was the start, but also pushing a lot in the first couple of laps. Doing this for the penalties was a little bit better, but the tyre management in the middle of the race was super difficult. Because I stressed the tyres a lot at the beginning, and I could not even do anything, I was just trying to recover the tyres.

"But I am very happy, I did not expect the podium, so I am super satisfied."

'I knew that if I pushed too much, I would be dead...'

Aprilia Racing and Bezzecchi devised a plan for the Australian Grand Prix and his double long lap penalty. The Italian manufacturer told their star rider to push at the start of the race and be patient in the middle to recover his tyres.

"I used quite a lot," he explained when asked how much tyre he used at the start of the race.

"I struggled because I had to be super patient, and I felt good with the bike, but I knew that if I pushed too much, then for the last six or seven laps I would be dead. So, I was patient, I tried to wait for the right time, and unfortunately, I lost a bit of time with Pedro [Acosta], who is super strong under braking.

"When I overtook him, I thought my maximum was fourth, so I just tried to escape from him. When I started pushing, I noticed I was recovering towards Alex [Marquez]. So, I gave it a go until the end, and I caught him; he was not easy to pass. But I am super happy."