GP France, Marquez: "Few can talk about my penalty”

GP France, Marquez: "Few can talk about my penalty”

The Spaniard returns to the track after fracturing his right hand at Portimao and speaks about the now cancelled penalty

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12.05.2023 ( Aggiornata il 12.05.2023 16:54 )

The Le Mans GP marks the return of Marc Marquez after injury saw him sidelined for three of the first four rounds. The Spaniard’s goals are of course different now, due to both his physical condition and a technical context with the bike that is still to be clarified: "I’m pleased to be back but I don’t expect a lot this weekend. I haven’t ridden for a month and a half and I’ll need to find my rhythm here at Le Mans. Then maybe I’ll be able to do more in the next races, but with my hand injury it’s been hard to push in training as I had been doing up until Portimao. I also missed the Jerez test, which is one of the most important events on the calendar so we’ll try a few things here, this weekend. The weather looks like it might be bad, but we’ll try to complete a positive weekend". During Friday’s sessions, the Spaniard will test the Kalex frame: We’ll try the Kalex frame, yes. We know it’s not ideal to test during a race weekend but it’s important we do so seeing as we missed the Jerez test, also because MotoGP will then take a three-week break.”

Marquez: "The real penalty was missing three races"

Ahead of the French round, the FIM has finally put an end to the debate regarding Marquez and the penalty to be served followed the Portimao incident. The Spaniard had been handed a double lap penalty to be served in Argentina, but his prolonged absence and return in time for the French round have ensured that the penalty can no longer be applied, in that the regulation was not specific in its wording (the text regarding the penalty did not include "to be served in the next race ").

Marquez is clear on the matter: "When I received the penalty, those were the rules and I was in agreement with the penalty. I made a mistake in Portugal and, on paper, the penalty was to be served in Argentina, but then somebody – I don’t know who or why – changed things”. The Honda rider continues: "This situation isn’t my fault, it seems that this rule will change (specifying that the penalty is to be served in the following race), but I don’t know if it’s the best thing. In doing so, riders might run greater risks. For me it would have been easy to come to Jerez, serve the penalty and then return to the garage, so I think they should come up with another strategy. I received the penalty at Portimao and this was understandable and I was in agreement, but when I agreed, the paper I signed said that it was to be served in Argentina, not in a subsequent race. Then something changed. The worst penalty was missing out on three consecutive races, believe me".

The Spaniard addresses any controversy

In recent weeks, some riders have admitted that they are frustrated by the discrepancies we are seeing when it comes to the application of sanctions. The fact that Marquez no longer has to serve the double long lap penalty he originally received could lead to controversy: "We’ve already seen that few can talk about this type of situation. A rider might talk crap about another only for it to happen to them in the very next race. No one wants to collide with anybody else, no one attacks without thinking, but sometimes we race on the limit and we make mistakes. These things happen when racing at the limit”.

Jorge Lorenzo has recently praised Marc, explaining how he is the only rider in MotoGP to have no fear. The eight-time champion had this to say: "I try to use my experience. During the process that has led to my return here at Le Mans, I’ve tried to have a non-conservative mentality. We listened to three doctors when it came to my rehabilitation and then we decided which path to take. My mentality is the same as ever and so, as always, I will try to attack and not defend”.

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