Marc Marquez's controversial COTA MotoGP start tactics and crash explained (ad-free)
Added 2025-03-31 01:58:12 +0000 UTCMarc Marquez basked in the limelight all throughout the Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA - in helping trigger an aborted start, in taking an early lead and in crashing out to give up first place in the MotoGP standings.
The Race breaks down a Marquez-centric race that has brought rival and team-mate Pecco Bagnaia back into the very thick of the 2025 title fight.
Comments
I don't think MM was looking specifically for a Red flag he would have wanted to start the warm up from pit lane in the best place, pit lane line, but what would happen if 9 riders are to start at the back of the grid ??? Which grid positions to they take, is it a free for all in which case the fastest warm up lap wins ??? Or do they go in their respective qualifying positions and who checks it ??? Remember MM reads the rules to exploit a loophole theres nothing that says he can't but for me its unsporting and somehow distasteful.
Evilchicken0
2025-04-01 08:30:44 +0000 UTCBang on Simon. I looked at the rulebook prior to reading this and only 10.5 bikes were in pit lane (the 0.5 being Maverick Vinales haha). The rule says for less than 11 bikes, they follow the pit lane start for the warm up lap, start the race on their grid position and then serve a ride through. But, there is a caveat in the rulebook that the race director can override any procedure based on safety grounds. It seems that Marcs intent was to cause chaos and get a red flag.
Cardiff Giant
2025-03-31 13:50:00 +0000 UTCCrazy race start. Would it make sense to hand out penalties (pit-lane starts, while harsh, sort of make the most sense seems as that's what they were all set to do anyway before the start was announced delayed) to the riders who fled the grid for the *next* race weekend? Also, yes, Marc started the chaos, but no one was more chaotic than Viñales. What on earth was going on there?!?!
awinthum
2025-03-31 02:32:29 +0000 UTC
