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Marquez Reflects on Crash in Thailand Grand Prix
Marc Marquez is convinced that he could have secured his second MotoGP victory within a week if not for a significant crash during the wet conditions of the Thailand Grand Prix.
The rider from Gresini Ducati experienced a low-speed tumble at turn nine on lap 12 while contending for the lead against reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia. The fall significantly hampered his race strategy.
After the incident, Marquez managed to get back on his bike and recovered to finish in 11th place, but he expressed frustration over what he believed was a missed opportunity for consecutive wins. He asserted that he had the speed to match Bagnaia throughout the race.
“On race day, we showed we were the fastest, but perhaps we lacked the patience needed at that crucial moment,” Marquez stated after the race.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by the slippery track conditions, saying, “It was extremely difficult to make a clear overtaking move against Bagnaia. I always intended to execute a precise pass since I had the pace, thinking to myself that more opportunities would present themselves.”
Marquez described his tactical approach, explaining that he often shifted between attacking and cooling down his front tire as he sought to maintain his pace relative to Bagnaia. “I was trying to adapt and root for my chances during the race, and during that second attack, I felt significantly faster,” he said.
He recounted the moment of his crash: “I pushed hard to stay with him, but just one-and-a-half degrees more in that corner at turn eight caused me to lose the front. It was a near miss that I couldn’t save.”
Reflecting on the incident, Marquez noted, “As humans, we all make mistakes, and today it simply happened to be mine.”
Despite the setback, Marquez remains in a solid third place in the overall standings, with Enea Bastianini trailing him as the season heads into its final two rounds.
Source
www.motorsport.com