MotoGP, Barcelona J2, Marc Marquez (Ducati/Q3-S7): "Acosta? It's nobody's fault, but if anyone could have avoided it, it was me"

Marc Marquez had another difficult day at the Barcelona Sprint. The Spanish rider finished a disappointing seventh, far from his initial ambitions. He pointed out a lack of feeling with the bike and difficulties in finding a consistent race rhythm. He also spoke about his encounter on the track with Pedro Acosta…

Marc Marquez did not have an easy Saturday in Barcelona for the Sprint Race of the 2024 Motul Solidarity GP. Although he managed to qualify third by being in the slipstream of Pecco Bagnaia, the start from the first line was not as favorable as hoped. After a contact with Peter Acosta, who then had to give up, Marquez finished the race in seventh position, far behind the leaders.

« It was a complicated sprint", commented the Spaniard after the race. " I didn't have the right feelings, and tomorrow we will have to work to try to do better. » The goal was to finish in the top 5, and ideally aim for third place, but the driver Gresini Ducati acknowledged that the performance did not live up to his expectations. I had a hard time at the start. To avoid Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia, I went wide, which made me lose time. Then there was the contact with Acosta. It's not anyone's fault, but I lost time again"

💥 @37_pedroacosta's fairing and heart were torn apart in the opening lap 💔

After a collision with @marcmarquez93, the rookie was forced to retire from the #TissotSprint ❌#SolidarityGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/EEywWsZ7Q3

- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) November 16, 2024

**Marc Marquez: “ This race was the one I had the most trouble with this season. »**

Then he specifies: “ but if anyone could avoid it, it was me. He never saw me. It's like what happened with Augusto Fernandez. Well, it's the same thing."

The motorcycle didn't help either. After the fourth round, I started having trouble. The bike wasn't working very well. I decided to finish the race, but it was difficult." Marc Marquez explained that the first turn at Barcelona is particularly difficult because you have to brake hard with the front level correction device, but the brakes were not yet at the right temperature, which made the start even more complicated.

« This race was the one where I had the most trouble this season. I wasn't riding well or cleanlyThe lap was fine, but in the race pace, it's impossible to be fast." he added, resigned but determined. Tomorrow we will try to be more consistent and do better." Marquez is therefore preparing for a new day, with the hope of finding better sensations for the main race.