Breaking news
MotoGP Americas GP
Marquez says Austin crash "hard to understand"
Marc Marquez says the crash that brought his MotoGP win streak at the Circuit of the Americas to an abrupt end was "hard to understand" because he feels he was not pushing to the limit.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Apr 15, 2019, 9:04 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Honda rider, unbeaten in his previous six premier class appearances at the Austin venue, appeared well positioned to make it seven COTA wins in a row after sprinting away from his pursuers from pole position in the early laps on Sunday.
Having established a gap over second-placed Valentino Rossi of 3.8 seconds, Marquez undid his hard work with a low-side crash at Turn 12 just shy of half-distance, and was unable to continue despite making frantic attempts to restart his stricken bike.
Rossi went on to finish second behind Suzuki rider Alex Rins, who scored his first MotoGP win, while Andrea Dovizioso moved to the head of the riders' standings after finishing fourth.
Read Also:
Speaking post-race, Marquez recalled: "In the race I was running a very good pace, just I pushed in the beginning to arrive at 2m04s-low [pace], but then I saw already the gap and I slowed down to 2m04s-half, because for me this was a good rhythm, I was comfortable.
"Sometimes it happens, this is racing. Disappointed, was hard to understand, but it’s like this. Just now we need to focus on the next race in Jerez and understand about it.
"But we are only nine points behind the first guy, that is Dovizioso. I’m happy because I’m there in the championship."
Pressed on the exact nature of his mistake, he replied: "I mean, I don’t know. Of course it was a mistake because you cannot crash when you are leading by 3.5 seconds, this is a mistake.
"But it’s true we compared the data, was very similar to the previous lap. But when you are riding a very constant pace, when you feel strong, it can happen."
Marquez denied a suggestion made by third-place finisher Jack Miller, who theorised that the Honda rider had pushed too hard in the early laps to break away from the pack and was struggling with an overheating front tyre.
He said: "On data already we compare and it was very similar to my fastest lap and to other laps. But of course it’s a very long braking point and it’s difficult to understand sometimes.
"The mistake is I crash, but I didn’t make anything stupid. Sometimes I say, 'ok, I was over the limit', but I was inside my limit. I was riding smooth, trying to save the front tyre.
"I didn’t have any warning, I was riding in a very good way, like more or less in Argentina."
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team bike
Photo by: Gold and Goose / LAT Images
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Rossi: Rins was “better than me” in Austin showdown
Next article Miller’s more mature approach “paying off” after COTA podium
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
1 mo
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Marc Marquez
Jorge Lorenzo describes Marc Marquez as “the Ayrton Senna of motorcycling”
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
4 d
Jorge Lorenzo describes Marc Marquez as “the Ayrton Senna of motorcycling”
Valentino Rossi in new autobiography: '2015 still hurts, Marc Marquez wanted me to lose'
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
5 d
Valentino Rossi in new autobiography: '2015 still hurts, Marc Marquez wanted me to lose'
More from
Honda HRC
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
3 d
With the Qatar MotoGP Grand Prix over, it is time to heal the wounds
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MotoGP
Qatar GP
6 d
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Honda names Jake Dixon as Joan Mir's substitute for Qatar GP
MotoGP
MotoGP
Malaysian GP
10 d
Honda names Jake Dixon as Joan Mir's substitute for Qatar GP
Latest news
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
44 min
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
4 h
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe