A SUNDAY TO FORGET IN PORTUGAL: A CRASH RULES OUT ALEX, A COMING TOGETHER BRINGS MARC’S EFFORT TO AN EARLY END
#PortugueseGP race. The ingredients for a good Sunday were all there, especially after a good start from both standard bearers of Team Gresini MotoGP. From 8th and 12th on the grid, respectively, Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez were able to immediately make up some positions in the very beginning before the first hurdle of the day came.
The #73 crashed – uninjured – out of the encounter at turn five with very little time spent on track, a tumble that took away any hope for points to the Spaniard, in a weekend that was already made quite complicated due to an unfortunate result in Q2. Marc’s race outcome was all in all very similar, but the dynamic was completely different…
With four laps left, the #93 makes an overtaking manoeuvre on Bagnaia, but the counter-attack of the Italian at the following corner results in a coming together that send both riders on the ground. The #93 was able to jump back on the bike and finish 16th as he crossed the line with a bitter taste in his mouth. A fourth place would have translated in the second position in the standings…
16th – MARC MARQUEZ #93
“A racing incident that none of us would have wanted. We go home with no points, but after a positive weekend in which we found continuity and speed. The stewards have decided that the incident deserves no sanction and we accept the decision. Pecco tried to defend his position, maybe with a little bit of optimism. The result still is the one nobody would have wished.”
RET. ALEX MARQUEZ #73
“Shame, because we had a good start. I pushed a lot as today’s MotoGP forces you to do a little bit more in the early laps. I gave my all and unfortunately, I ended up crashing. I got back on track simply because had it rained, everything would have changed, but after a few laps I decided to pull out of the race. A Sunday to forget, but we’ll try again at Austin.”
