MotoGP, Australia: Pecco Bagnaia recalls that Marc Marquez broke a tacit agreement between the riders by removing his tear-off on the starting grid

At the Australian Grand Prix, Marc Marquez found himself in a tricky situation at the start due to a tear-off (visor protection) that got stuck under his rear wheel. This mishap significantly compromised his start and also had an impact on the drivers behind him, notably Pecco Bagnaia who recalls an agreement between the drivers on the subject since 2020…

At the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix, Marc Marquez had to remove a tear-off from his visor on the starting grid, which led to an unexpected situation. While removing the tear-off, it was blown away by the wind under his rear wheel, causing significant wheel spin and compromising his start. Pecco Bagnaia, who was just behind Marquez, was also affected by this situation.

At a press conference, bagnaia described the scene: “ I saw he was pulling out his tear-off, but he threw it the wrong way, because the wind was blowing from that side, so he came back under his motorcycle. He was trying to pull it out, but it was under his bike and we were very close to the start. It wasn't ideal ».

bagnaia also explained how he had to adapt his departure because of this incident: “ I saw him, and I said, 'Okay, I have to go more to the right.' But then Maverick Viñales started going inside, to the left, and I had to do a slalom " This obviously affected his own start and his management of the first corner.

Pecco Bagnaia: “ we talked about not throwing the tear-off away at first, but we never made it a rule »

Marc Marquez admitted that drivers have a verbal agreement not to remove tear-offs on the starting grid, a principle put in place after a similar incident in 2020 involving the protective visor of Fabio Quartararo which went to lodge itself in the radiator of the Ducati of Jack Miller in Misano, which led to its abandonment. However, Marc Marquez explained that he had no other choice because an insect on his visor prevented him from seeing properly.

Pecco Bagnaia acknowledged that in this case Marc was right: " We talked about not throwing the tear-off at the start, because of the problem that happened with Jack Miller in 2020 at Misano, but we never made it a rule. It's something that depends on the pilot's feelings.. But I recognize that if you have a bug on your visor, it is impossible to see, or it distracts you a lot, so it is best to remove it ».

The tacit agreement between riders regarding tear-offs is an example of fair play. Failure to respect this agreement can create tensions within the peloton. MotoGP. Each driver is responsible for their own safety and that of others. It is therefore important that everyone respects the rules and agreements established. This incident also highlights the importance of managing small details in racing, and how a seemingly minor element can affect several drivers at the start of a key race.