Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1495752
Crash Backlash: Marquez, Race Direction Under Fire M arc Marquez was under fire after a wild move on Sunday, March 26, in Portugal ended in a collision that bruised Miguel Oliveira's right hip, as well as potentially damaging some ligaments, and breaking a toe on Jorge Martin's right foot. What's more, Marquez suffered a poten - tially fractured first metacarpal in his right hand, which was operated on Sunday evening. While he was handed a double long-lap penalty for the upcom - ing race in Argentina, his peers called for a tougher sanction. "What they said in the prerace briefing was if you keep doing things, you will get stronger pen - alties," said Martin. "He keeps doing the same, so he needed to get a stronger penalty. But we all know it's Marc and they will do nothing. It's a shame." Aleix Espargaro went one step further. "They have to ban him one race minimum," he said. "The speed he hit Miguel; he could've de - stroyed the knee." Espargaro then turned his ire to the FIM Stewards, who penal - ized Joan Mir for a collision with Fabio Quartararo in the Sprint, but not Alex Marquez, who pushed Maverick Vinales wide in the same encounter. "I'm not saying it was a penalty for Mir, but if you do it, you have to do the other actions as well." CN WIND IN THE P24 The Miguel Oliveira/Marc Marquez crash has seen Marquez come under intense fire from some competitors. Marquez's Mea Culpa M arquez appeared genuinely contrite on Sunday after- noon after his mistake ruined the chances of home hero Miguel Oliveira. "Today, the most important is that Miguel is okay. Because I did a big mistake on turn [three], in the first part and this created everything," admit - ted the eight-time champ. I braked and had a massive lock with the front tire. That created that I released the brakes. My intention was to go to the left side. But the bike stayed at that lean, and I couldn't avoid going to the right side. I was able to avoid Martin but couldn't avoid Miguel. I was very worried for him because the con - tact was big. I already said it personally, but I want to say sorry to him, to his team, to the Portuguese fans. I have been penalized for that mistake with a double long-lap penalty, that I completely, completely agree." Oliveira accepted the apol - ogy and now faces a rush to be fit for Argentina. "He said that probably he had a problem on his brakes," said Oliveira. "I mean, there's nothing I could really say. Of course, there is re - spect and obviously his apology is accepted. But, at the same time, when we have a problem with the brakes on these bikes, usually we brake a bit earlier and we don't try to overtake. So, this is the main thing. For sure, he knows this better than me." CN Marc Marquez was very apologetic after his Sunday crash.