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Marc Marquez's Friday at Sachsenring ended with a crash that could clearly have had rather serious consequences. The Spaniard was trying to move up the standings to go directly into Q2, when he lost the front of his Honda entering turn 1. Rider and bike literally shot towards the run-off area, and crossed paths along the way with the trajectory of Johann Zarco, who was entering the track at that moment.
The impact was very violent, but luckily the Frenchman had seen Marc crash and was able to lift his right leg off the footpeg, thus avoiding exposing it to a collision that would undoubtedly have caused several problems. Luckily neither of the two riders was hurt, but the controversies were not long in coming. However, the Marquez who presented himself to the journalists at the end of the session was convinced that the fault of what happened lies with Zarco, who according to the Spaniard should have taken a different stance when entering the track.
"In that corner, when you push, it's very easy to make that mistake, this morning Aleix and Quartararo also crashed in the same way - explained Marc - I made a mistake, the bike closed in front, but Zarco was the one who could have avoided that situation. When someone comes fast you must be careful, not just take the turn wide. I couldn't avoid the impact, Johann could. I'm not talking about the crash because that is obviously only my fault, but the impact between us. I looked at him, I tried to go to him, but the bikes were coming, and he was in the middle of the track, it was dangerous. I saw he was sitting and conscious, I couldn't help him, the marshals were there. I knew the second bike wasn't ready for the time attack because he had another setup, so I didn't want to run towards the pits because it would have been pointless. Luckily, neither of us was hurt".
Do you think the problem also depends on the layout of the pitlane exit?
"Something similar happened in the past between Pol Espargarò and Petrucci at Aragon. For me, the guy that is coming out of the pitlane is the guy who needs to watch behind, because turn 1 is really an easy point in which to crash".
It looks like you also gave the middle finger after saving a crash. Did the camera make a good recording of what you did?
“The camera recorded it well. It was about the situation; the adrenaline was super high. I saved a crash in a very fast corner. So, we need to understand how to ride smoother or a bit slower and we will not have these moments. Of course, today we had to change something big to try to improve. As soon as I went out on the track this morning I was immediately at the limit, but then I stayed there, it's not possible to improve. We must find a compromise as soon as possible. We're struggling, when you're hot and there's so much adrenaline... too many situations happened this weekend. Was the finger for the bike? No, it was for the situation."
Did you expect all these problems here?
"I expected to have problems here because we struggle with traction and if you don't have grip at the Sachsenring, you don’t do anything. We must look at the data and figure out how to take a step forward for tomorrow. We're not bad in terms of pace, but in the flying lap we struggle. We're suffering more than normal, but I expected it. I was hoping that since I like the track here, it could go better. But there's no grip, I always lose the rear and I can't force it. I had so many moments where I could have crashed and I also had that reaction with the gesture of my finger, but it was towards the situation, not towards the bike".
But why didn't you go to Zarco after the crash?
"This situation is very simple to explain. I've seen situations of this type a thousand times. The other bike wasn't ready to do the time attack, I didn't want to go back to the pits as soon as possible because I didn't have the chance of doing a time attack anyway. If Zarco had been in the run-off area, I would have gone to him. But he was on the track, and there were marshals who were approaching. I saw that he was conscious, I thought not to create an even more situation dangerous by going there. Clearly, I was interested to see how he was doing, I always do. But this time I’m angry because if somebody could have avoided that situation, it was Johann.”
Both you and Nakagami crashed using the Kalex frame.
"Yes, and it seems that there are only a few more pieces. I only used that, because with the current free practice format it is impossible to make comparisons between two different solutions. We need to make a radical change today in view of tomorrow.”
