Метка: Alex Marquez

Mir’s comments after Japan clash «didn’t make sense»

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Gresini Ducati rider Alex Marquez says he was “surprised” at the media comments made by Honda’s Joan Mir immediately after the most recent MotoGP round in Japan.

The 2020 MotoGP champion spoke out against Marquez after being taken out of the race by the Ducati, which literally attached itself to the back of his machine after Marquez lost control on the first lap.

Mir made his comments about the “crazy” incident a short while before news of a long lap penalty for Marquez – which the Spanish rider must serve in this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix – was announced.

At the time, Mir was also under the impression that the clash was not being investigated at all. This led him to direct considerable criticism at the stewards as well as Marquez, who did accept responsibility for the crash and later said he had apologised to Mir.

“I was surprised by Mir’s reaction,” said Marquez in Australia on Thursday. “Because what he said to me didn’t make sense to me at all [compared to] what I found in the press yesterday.

“When Joan spoke in the press, he got heated and didn’t make a lot of sense. He was pissed off with race direction about the long lap [penalty that had not yet been announced].

“I was told that the reason was that I had ruined someone else’s race. But Jack Miller caused the crash at Mandalika [when the Australian took out three riders on the opening lap, and was not penalised].»

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Marquez is 12th in the points standings heading into this weekend, having secured just one podium so far this season – a third position at the German Grand Prix.

Mir is 20th, having only occasionally troubled the scorers in a very tough year for all the Honda riders. The Spaniard’s lack of speed has been compounded by unfortunate incidents.

“It’s not just a case of bad luck. It’s also being in the wrong place at the wrong time. These kinds of things always happen when you’re fighting at the back,» said Mir.

He was, however, in more optimistic mood coming into the weekend, which will play out on a resurfaced Phillip Island circuit.

“I expect that this will help us,” Mir said. “This track is always special. It’s one I enjoy and where I have been fast in the past.

“Phillip Island is a bit different. Maybe it’s a track where we can show our progress…or maybe not!”



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MotoGP still dealing with ‘aftershock’ of Bagnaia and Marquez Aragon clash

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MotoGP is still dealing with the after-effects of Francesco Bagnaia’s collision with Alex Marquez in the Aragon Grand Prix.

While Marc Marquez’s stunning comeback win in Spain after a 1000-day drought generated plenty of headlines, the aftermath of the weekend was dominated by reactions and public judgement over the crash between his younger brother Alex and world champion Bagnaia six laps from the chequered flag.

Both were lucky to escape injury and the comprehensive TV coverage from multiple angles could not clearly discern blame.
 
Bagnaia’s immediate comments in the wake of his second DNF this season and while nursing a painful neck — “I had 170kg on top of me” — were pointed towards younger Marquez and what he felt was a purposeful move to end his race.

It was an accusation that the Gresini Ducati rider denied to the media and then in a direct social media post.
 
Bagnaia, walking wounded for the second year in a row coming into his home grand prix (he lives only a few kilometres away in Pesaro), apologised in his media duties on Thursday at Misano and reiterated his lament again in the press conference.

The incident lost Bagnaia control of the world championship standings to Jorge Martin, leaving him with a 23-point deficit ahead of the Misano double-header.

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The prang instigated debate online and through MotoGP’s official social media channels. A video clip of the incident on the series’ Instagram account registered over 317,000 likes and was the most popular premier class clip of the grand prix — and was accompanied by a long scrolling list of comments.

Bagnaia’s words compounded the drama. Alex Marquez accepted the apology in Misano but said the “damage to my person, my team and my image has already been done,” in reference to the reactions.

Several other riders in the paddock also chipped in with comments about the situation.
 
“There are a lot of hooligans that take the words of the riders to go against the others and this is very bad,” opined KTM test rider Pol Espargaro on the wider context.
 
“This is the world we live,” attested Aprilia racer Aleix Espargaro, commenting on the tribal nature of MotoGP and fans groups that tend to flare-up at flash points like Aragon.

“Luckily it is not like football but sometimes it’s close. It’s the worst part, especially for the athletes. Today you cannot disappear. You cannot just focus on racing and forget social media. You need to grow up and deal with social media, the pressure, the critics. It is part of our job but not the most beautiful.”
 
The clash created attention and movement among the MotoGP community and only two weeks after the Austrian Grand Prix had provided one of the more static and uninspiring races of the season.

“Depends how you see it,” Marquez said in the press conference on whether the crash fallout had been ‘good’ for the series.

“Like I said the damage [for me] is already done. I think it is not good for the sport in general. I don’t want to speak more about this chapter. I appreciate that he apologised for his words. That’s it. We are here and we need to be focussed on the track, this is where our job is.”

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Bagnaia says sorry for blasting Alex Marquez after Aragon MotoGP clash

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Francesco Bagnaia has said sorry for criticising Alex Marquez after they collided and crashed out of the Aragon Grand Prix last weekend.

The reigning MotoGP world champion was furious with the Gresini rider, claiming the accident was «dangerous» and said Marquez «didn’t stop accelerating until he threw me off».

Once the Italian had simmered down, the two had a private meeting in a Ducati truck to clear the air and now the factory Ducati rider Bagnaia said he was wrong with his harsh words.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s San Marino Grand Prix, he said: «First of all, I want to say sorry to Alex for the strong words I said to him. I said in the interviews after the race, I was very angry for what happened, and looking at the telemetry, [the accident] was even worse for my point of view.

«But in any case, I was a bit too strong in my words. I didn’t wanted to say that he made me crash on purpose.

«The thing was that his defence was a bit aggressive, like it’s normal when you’re fighting for podium positions and I’m still thinking the same about the incident but the words I said was a bit too much and I say sorry to to Alex.”

He then added: «Sometimes the angriness makes you say something that you don’t think. From my point of view, he came to our office to say sorry for what happened. Enough said. We are two riders. We have two different points of view and respect.»

Marquez was grateful to Bagnaia for publicly apologising for his comments, but feels the damage to his reputation has already been done after the Italian’s remarks were circulated heavily in the media.

«The fact that he apologised, I like it and it’s something I’m very thankful to him for his words,» he said. «But also it’s true that the damage to my person [reputation], my team and also to my riding image has already been done.

«[Having] said that, I want to close this chapter. I don’t want to speak anymore about that. I’m looking forward. We are coming from a real positive weekend in Aragon, so we look forward [to Misano].»

Marquez had also posted a message on his social media handles earlier this week, saying he would «never deliberately crash with another rider» and that the issue between him and Bagnaia is now «settled».

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Both riders escaped without breaking any bones in the 80mph crash when their bikes became tangled, sending them both skidding across the surface, with Bagnaia’s arm trapped under his bike.

And the Italian says he is still feeling the impact of the accident ahead of his home race this weekend at Misano.

He said: «Physically not I’m not at my 100 percent. I feel a lot of pain on my shoulder and over the collarbone and neck. But in any case, we will try to get ready.

«This is my home grand prix and it is always fantastic to race in front of all the crowd here.»

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“He didn’t stop accelerating until he threw me off”

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Francesco Bagnaia has lashed out at Alex Marquez for their collision in the Aragon Grand Prix, claiming the Gresini Ducati MotoGP rider «didn’t stop accelerating until he threw me off”.

Marc Marquez’s victory dominated the headlines in Spain on Sunday, but the fallout between his younger brother Alex and Bagnaia was also a major talking point after the race.

Alex Marquez collided with the factory Ducati rider with six laps to go when they were fighting for the last podium place, with contact at Turn 13 sending both of them out of the race.

Bagnaia was trapped under the Gresini GP23 as they slid off the track, before he was finally released when the bike flew over him in the gravel.

The crash left left him with a sore neck from the impact but miraculously neither suffered any serious injuries.

After the incident, Bagnaia and Marquez were summoned separately to the Race Direction office, and after presenting their views, both were cleared of any wrongdoing.

But in his post-race interview, Bagnaia put the blame firmly on Marquez, describing the Spaniard’s actions as «dangerous».

He said: «It’s not that I have to explain a lot of things. The dynamic is what it is. It’s worrying that there are riders who do certain things. When I was on the inside I felt a hit of gas, and he didn’t stop accelerating until he threw me off.

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

«The worst of all, what makes me most angry is the data. The telemetry reveals that, after the contact, [Marquez] went from accelerating 40% to 60%. It’s dangerous to race with someone who does these things.

«Normally, one tries to avoid contact, although the data shows that there are people who do not see it that way.»

The collision was particularly costly for Bagnaia in the context of the championship battle as he lost further ground to title rival Jorge Martin, with the Pramac rider going on to finish second to increase his advantage to 23 points.

Marquez, on his part, argued that he could not see Bagnaia from his position after the latter had passed him for third.

He believes that the onus was on his rival to avoid a collision.

«Nothing is going to change what happened. If anyone could avoid contact it was him, who knew I was there. I had no knowledge that [Bagnaia] was on the outside,» said the 28-year-old.

«The only thing I told the Race Direction members is that, if he had left a little more space between us and had not traced to the inside, nothing would have happened,» he added.

Bagnaia was upset that in addition to the accident itself that Marquez made no effort to apologise for what happened in the immediate aftermath of the race.

However, Motorsport.com understands that a couple of hours later, when things had cooled down, the two riders met in private in a Ducati truck to clear the air between them.

The meeting was just between the two riders and involved no other team members and lasted less than five minutes in which they exchanged their versions of events.

The meeting took place after the two had spoken with Ducati’s general manager Gigi Dall’igna.

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing crash

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

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Alex Marquez would’ve ‘traded 42 podiums for one with Marc’ before German GP

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Gresini MotoGP rider Alex Marquez says he would have traded all his previous 42 grand prix podiums for the one he achieved in last weekend’s German Grand Prix with elder brother Marc.

Alex and Marc Marquez shared a podium in MotoGP for the first time in Sunday’s race at the Sachsenring after finishing third and second respectively behind race winner Francesco Bagnaia (factory Ducati team).

It was a landmark result for the Gresini duo, as no two siblings have stood together on the rostrum in the premier class since Nubautsu and Takuma Aoki in 1997 Imola Grand Prix. Much like the Marquez brothers, they were also riding for the same manufacturer — Honda — albeit for different teams.

The third-place finish for the younger Marquez marked his 43rd podium across all three classes and came just days after he signed a new two-year contract with Gresini that will keep him at the Italian squad until the end of the current rules cycle in 2026.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the race, the 28-year-old didn’t hide the fact that he has been dreaming about celebrating a double podium result with his brother for a very long time.

«It’s a strange feeling, we are very lucky in life, we have lived many happy days, many more than we could have imagined, days when we both won in different categories, or won the title in the same year,” said Alex Marquez, a one-time champion in both Moto3 and Moto2.

“This was the next dream, I had imagined it many, many times. I would change my forty-odd podiums I have in the World Championship for this one. It is much more special to be on a podium with your brother than the previous forty without him.

Mick Doohan, Nobuatsu Aoki and Takuma Aoki

Mick Doohan, Nobuatsu Aoki and Takuma Aoki

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

“I hope I can repeat it and if possible with a victory and a second place. But we know it will be difficult, so, as he said, we have to celebrate and enjoy the moment, because what the World Championship has taught me and being here, above all, is that what you have today, you don’t know if you’ll have tomorrow.”

A second-place at Sachsenring was equally special for the elder Marquez, especially after having broken a finger and bruised his ribs during a high-side crash on Friday at the start of the weekend.

But the 31-year-old warned that a repeat of the result is “impossible” in 2024, with their 2023-spec GP23 bikes looking increasingly weaker against the latest-spec Desmosedicis raced by the factory and Pramac teams.

The double podium in Germany was only made possible after Pramac’s Jorge Martin crashed out of the race with two laps to go while leading from Bagnaia.

“To share the podium with my brother, we will enjoy it a lot,” said the six-time champion. “This is a day we will never forget because it will be difficult to repeat in the future.

“Honestly speaking this season it will be impossible. Why? For me it’s difficult to be on the podium, for him it’s difficult to be on the podium. So to find the same Sunday on the podium was a bit unreal.

«But in a dry race, in a very fast race, [Alex]is a very talented rider and today he showed. «The fact that he already has two more years with Gresini, [it] feels more relaxed to him and this weekend he rode in a very good way.”

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Alex Marquez signs new two-year deal with Gresini MotoGP team

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Alex Marquez will remain with Gresini Racing until the end of the 2026 MotoGP season after inking a fresh two-year deal.

As revealed by Motorsport.com last week, the younger Marquez will see out the current MotoGP rules era with the satellite Ducati squad after a successful adaptation to the Desmosedici following his previous struggles on the Honda RC213V.

It remains unclear who will partner Marquez at Gresini in 2025, with brother and new-for-2024 team-mate Marc Marquez having been handed a promotion to the factory Ducati outfit beginning next year.

«Staying with Gresini was my main goal,” said Alex Marquez. 

“Since I joined this team, my target has been to consistently get close to the best, and it’s something I haven’t achieved yet. 

“The start of the season wasn’t what we hoped for, but the team is strong and I know where we can go. So, I just want to thank Nadia for the trust, and I’m sure we’ll soon repay her with some celebratory pineapple pizza.»

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Marquez left the Honda camp after 2022 to join Gresini last year and scored a podium in only his second race weekend with the squad in Argentina. He would go on to add another rostrum to his tally near the end of the season in Malaysia, as well as two sprint wins at Silverstone and Sepang, to secure a career-best ninth in the championship.

Although Marquez hasn’t been able to claim a top-three spot so far this year on his year-old Ducati this year, partly due to the step the Borgo Panigale marque has made with the GP24, he has been inside the top 10 in every grand prix he has finished so far.

That has put him a respectable 10th in the standings ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix on 62 points, just behind the factory Aprilia of Aleix Espargaro.

Combined with elder brother Marc’s stellar start to the year, the Gresini squad sits a strong third in the teams’ championship, trailing only factory Ducati and Pramac outfits.

Nadia Padovani, Gresini Racing owner, said: «Alex is our pupil. Since he joined two years ago, the synergy between him and the team has been incredible and has strengthened with each race. 

“We know his potential; he has already shown it and just needs consistency. Renewing with him was an obvious move for us because we are aware of his value both on and off the track. 

“The results will come this year too, I am absolutely certain of it.»



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Alex Marquez to stay with Gresini Ducati for MotoGP 2025

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Gresini Racing, which has a 2025 contract with Ducati to remain one of its satellite teams, has reached an agreement with Alex Marquez to extend their partnership next season.

Marquez joined Gresini in 2023 from Honda, with which he made his premier class debut in 2020.

After a first year with the factory team, due to the premature retirement of Jorge Lorenzo, the 2019 Moto2 champion was transferred to the LCR team, where he spent two seasons until the end of 2022 and where he suffered extraordinarily from the competitive slump of the RC213V.

That lack of confidence with the bike led him to look for a way out, which led to his signing with Gresini, with which he made his debut at the 2023 Portuguese GP with an encouraging fifth position, sharing the box that season with Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio, riding year-old machinery.

After two podiums in his first season with Gresini, as well as two victories in Sprint races (Great Britain and Malaysia), Marquez has welcomed his brother Marc Marquez as team-mate this year — both inheriting the Desmosedici GP23 from last year.

Turning 28 earlier this year, Alex Marquez, who came to the world championship in 2012, was Moto3 champion in 2014, and Moto2 champion in 2019.

This opened the door for a MotoGP step with Honda, which promoted him to the premier class in 2020, where he achieved podiums at the Le Mans and Aragon races.

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

With Marquez’s renewal, Gresini closes half of its rider line-up following the news earlier this month that his older brother will move to the factory Ducati team in 2025.

An official announcement is expected soon.

The 2025 grid is now shaping up quickly following Ducati’s announcement that it will field Marc Marquez in its factory squad, with Jorge Martin moving to Aprilia alongside Marco Bezzecchi.

Maverick Vinales will leave Aprilia for Tech3 KTM, joining Enea Bastianini, while the Austrian marque had already confirmed Pedro Acosta’s promotion to its factory squad next season alongside Brad Binder.

Double world champion Francesco Bagnaia signed a new Ducati deal prior to the start of the season, while Yamaha locked Fabio Quartararo down for two more seasons earlier this year.

Coming into the year, Honda already had Luca Marini and Johann Zarco on contracts through to the end of 2025, while Joan Mir looks set to stick with HRC beyond this year.

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Bagnaia penalised for Alex Marquez incident in Mugello MotoGP practice

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


In the closing stages of second practice at Mugello on Friday afternoon, Gresini’s Marquez was forced to abort a flying lap when he came across a slow Bagnaia on the approach to Turn 12.

Marquez was enraged by this and vented his frustrations to Bagnaia on his bike as the pair rounded the corner.

Both riders secured a place directly into Saturday’s Q2 qualifying, with Bagnaia leading second practice.

However, he will be forced to drop three places on the grid for Sunday’s Italian GP at Mugello. The penalty will not apply for the sprint.

Prior to the penalty, Bagnaia says he saw no blue flags warning him of Marquez approaching behind and feels the Gresini rider’s actions were typical.

“Yeah, like always,” he said of Marquez’s outburst.

“I was, first of all, without blue flags. And then I was out of the line, I braked more in front to be out and like always he’s a good showman.

“So, he did this kind of gesturing on his bike. Like always.”

For his part, Marquez says he was being held up by Bagnaia from the second sector of that lap.

“Well, I was coming on a hot lap, improving my lap times,” Marquez said. “I saw Pecco in front from sector two being really slow in the middle of the track.

“I was expecting him to watch behind to see me, but he never did it. Going into Turn 12 he was completely in the middle of the line, on the racing line.

“I was able to avoid him, but I had to cut the throttle. So, for me, it’s quite clear what happened.”

When it was put to him that Bagnaia felt he overreacted, Marquez added: “He also said he was out of the line. And it’s not true.

“So, I will not say any more. He knows what happened, I know what happened. So, that’s it.”

If Bagnaia is found guilty of irresponsible riding by the FIM stewards, he could be facing a grid penalty for Sunday’s grand prix.

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