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Marc and Alex Marquez Reflect on Controversial First Corner Incident at Qatar Grand Prix

In a dramatic turn of events during the Qatar Grand Prix, Marc Marquez, who clinched the race victory, openly acknowledged his role in the incident involving his younger brother Alex as they approached the first corner. The pole-sitter, Marc, took the lead but inadvertently cut across Alex’s path at a lower speed than anticipated while exiting the corner. This resulted in contact that caused minor damage to both Ducatis.

The collision altered the pace for both riders, allowing VR46’s Franco Morbidelli to slip past and secure an early lead. While Marc managed to navigate the situation without significant detriment to his race, Alex’s rhythm faltered as he lost additional positions in the process. His difficulties escalated further when he collided with Fabio di Giannantonio on lap three while attempting to reclaim his position, leading to a long-lap penalty that ultimately affected his standings. After starting just two points behind Marc earlier in the race, Alex now finds himself trailing by 17 points, retaining second place in the championship standings.

After the race, Marc reflected on the collision with his brother, attributing the mistake more to himself. “Yeah, the contact with Alex was a little bit more my mistake than his mistake,” he stated. “I opened the gas and felt the rear sliding, so I closed the throttle. He didn’t expect that, which is why he made contact. Luckily for both of us, we stayed upright.”

Alex also took responsibility for his subsequent crash with di Giannantonio, acknowledging it as a miscalculation while attempting to pass into the fast right-hander at Turn 12. “It was my mistake, it’s my responsibility. When you make a mistake, you need to accept it,” he said. He expressed regret over not being able to speak with di Giannantonio after the incident due to timing and team dynamics.

Di Giannantonio, visibly frustrated by the incident, shared his thoughts post-race. “The goal today was to fight with Marc. I was clear in front of Alex and got hit quite hard. While it was a mistake, such occurrences at the MotoGP level are pushing the boundaries. We need to avoid these risky situations, as they endanger riders’ safety. If I had crashed, I may not be here speaking to you now.”

As the season progresses, the implications of these incidents may weigh heavily not just on the Marquez brothers, but also on their competitors, as the quest for championship points intensifies.

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