For nine laps, Alex Marquez looked like the only one capable of challenging Marc Marquez at the Sachsenring. Then it all came to a halt in a fraction of a second. A crash without contact, without a spectacular error… but perhaps indicative of a trap into which all the rivals of the six-time MotoGP champion fall.
For Neil Hodgson, the cause is clear: Alex tried to fly like his brother. Sachsenring remains the kingdom of Marc Marquez. The pilot Ducati he landed a tenth victory in the premier categoryconfirming once again that he possesses a level on this track that no one seems able to match.
Alex Marquez had nevertheless managed to stay right behind him for the entire first part of the race. After finishing less than four tenths of a second behind in the SprintHe seemed capable of maintaining the pressure on Sunday. Until that crash on the ninth lap.
By analyzing the images for TNT SportsNeil Hodgson believes that the pilot Gresini fell into a classic trap. His mistake was following his brother"According to the former British pilot," Marc Marquez consistently gained a tenth of a second in the last sector of the circuit, particularly in the last corner.
Alex then allegedly tried to reproduce the exact same trajectories. He braked in the same spot as his brother, he turned like his brother, but unfortunately he wasn't able to stop the motorcycle completely. »
In other words, it wasn't a gross error that caused the crash, but the desire to replicate what only one pilot seems capable of executing. Sachsenring.
The Marquez trap
This analysis highlights a reality often discussed in the paddock. Marc Marquez On certain circuits, it possesses a unique ability to exploit the limits of grip. Its lines, braking points, and the way it lifts the motorcycle are often impossible to perfectly copy. Many riders have learned this the hard way over the years. Alex Marquez probably experienced that on Sunday.
This fall comes at the worst possible time. Alex Marquez has already surpassed his total number of retirements from the entire previous season, as the championship fight now enters its second half. His retirement, added to that of Fabio DiGiannantoniodirectly benefits Marc Marquez, which achieves one of the best accounting operations of the season before the summer break.
Neil Hodgson's analysis is consistent with the data observed over the weekend: Marc seemed indeed to make the difference in the last sector of the SachsenringHowever, to state with certainty that this desire to imitate his brother is the cause of the fall remains an interpretation.
Alex Marquez He has, for the moment, never publicly explained that this was his intention. What is certain, however, is that trying to follow Marc Marquez Doing it on his favorite circuit is an exercise that very few drivers have managed in the last decade. And on Sunday, Alex paid a heavy price for it.
