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Marc Marquez’s Tactical Move at the Americas GP: A Strategic Exit
Marc Marquez recently elaborated on his strategic decision to leave the starting grid just before the Americas Grand Prix, a move that was as much about understanding the rules as it was about reading the competition’s mindset.
With rain impacting track conditions approximately 30 minutes prior to the race, all riders faced a critical decision regarding their tyre choices. As the track dried quickly, Marquez made a decisive move to exit the grid to retrieve a ‘dry’ bike from the Ducati garage moments before the scheduled warm-up lap. His swift action prompted a mass exodus from the grid by other competitors who chose to follow his lead rather than risk a different strategy from the pole-sitter.
Under the regulations, if more than ten riders leave the grid before the start of the race, it results in a restart with all participants returning to their original grid positions.
Marquez recognized that this tactical dash for his Ducati was unlikely to lead to a penalty or force him to start from the pits. “I really know the rules,” Marquez stated when asked about the intent behind his actions. “With eight minutes to go, I realized our strategy regarding the rain was flawed, but understood most riders were still set up for wet conditions.”
“Seven minutes before the start, I checked with my chief mechanic about the readiness of the second bike with a dry set-up. After he confirmed, I decided we might leave the grid,” he recounted. “I anticipated that once I made my move, many others would follow, leading to a race stoppage.”
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Ultimately, exactly ten riders left, meaning Marquez’s calculation was spot on. The race was halted due to disorder in the grid area, opening the door for discussions about whether Marquez and the nine others should have faced penalties for their actions.
Fabio di Giannantonio, who started next to Marquez on the front row, confirmed the influence of Marquez’s decision. “I had no strategy of my own; I thought I should just follow Marc,” he acknowledged after finishing third. “When I saw him run off, I had to go after him. My team sought to hold me back, but I insistently bolted. If I’m on the front row and the pole-sitter takes off, I have to go too.”
Race Day: A Turn of Events
Marc Marquez, Ducati Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Although Marquez’s decision to switch bikes was initially advantageous given the drying track conditions, his race took a downward turn when he crashed out while leading the race on lap nine. He lost control after hitting a wet kerb at Turn 4, inadvertently handing victory to his teammate, Francesco Bagnaia.
“I clipped the kerb too much and lost the front end,” Marquez admitted. “It was entirely my fault, and I apologize to the team.”
He continued, “I had successfully navigated that kerb for several laps before, but I was overly ambitious on that specific lap. My focus was sharp, not overconfidence. My mistake resulted in losing 25 crucial points.”
Not only did Marquez lose the race, but he also relinquished the world championship lead, now trailing his brother Alex by a single point.
Source
www.autosport.com