The clash between Marc Márquez and Nicolo Bulega during the Race of Champions continues to provoke strong reactions within the paddock. If the Spanish rider acknowledged his share of responsibility, some observers point the finger at the organization of the event and in particular the role of Ducati.
--Neil Hodgson, former Superbike rider and consultant for TNT Sports, delivered his analysis of the situation on crash.net : " who is responsible for this incident? I will explain to you. It was World Ducati Week, an event where all Ducati riders are invited. It's written in their contracts. We bring together the best riders in the world, give them the latest motorcycles and organize a race for them. It's the perfect recipe for chaos! »
Hodgson continues: “ you have Bulega in third position, Marquez behind him. I immediately felt that Marquez was going to try to overtake on the last lap, it's in his nature. In Misano, there are only three corners left to overtake, so if you don't do it first, it's almost mission impossible. Bulega made a small mistake turning into the last corner, and Marquez took advantage of this to make a very aggressive overtake."
« Ducati has put all the ingredients in place for it to escalate »
According to Hodgson, Ducati bears some responsibility for this incident. By organizing such a competitive race between high-level drivers, the Italian brand created a context conducive to tensions and clashes. “ Ducati has put all the ingredients in place for it to escalate“, underlines the consultant.
The criticism was not limited to the organization of the event. Some also highlighted the lack of sportsmanship of Marquez, who was accused of endangering his opponent. The Spanish driver has since apologized, but the incident continues to be debated. “ There is no reason why, with equal machines, Marquez would want to be beaten by Iannone and Bulega » Hodgson finishes.
