Marco Bezzecchi
Neil Hodgson says the FIM stewards were correct to penalise Marc Marquez for his controversial move on Pedro Acosta during the Thailand Grand Prix Sprint.
Reigning world champion Marquez lost a victory in the first race of the season when the stewards ordered him to drop behind Acosta.
After a thrilling, back-and-forth battle between the prospective 2027 teammates, Marquez attempted an audacious move on Acosta at the final corner on the penultimate lap.
Pedro Acosta scores his first MotoGP win in the Buriram Sprint Race!
Who was your rider of the Sprint Race at the 2026 Thailand Grand Prix?
Marquez went wide himself and Acosta was forced off completely, which led the stewards to punish him. The KTM rider bagged his first victory of any description at the start of his third MotoGP season.
Neil Hodgson says Marc Marquez was ‘too far back’ to attempt Pedro Acosta move
While some MotoGP fans were unhappy with Marquez’s penalty, TNT Sports pundit Hodgson said it was completely fair.
Had Marquez been closer on the entry to the corner, Acosta could have cut back underneath him. But because the move was from so far back, the 21-year-old had to take evasive action.
While Hodgson says ‘there’s no way’ the manoeuvre was legal, he did at least welcome Marquez’s aggression. In his eyes, that’s what makes the seven-time world champion so likeable.
Do you agree with Neil Hodgson’s take on Marc Marquez’s Thailand Sprint penalty?
“He came from too far back,” Hodgson said on TNT’s post-race coverage. “When you see it again, the pass isn’t on. If Acosta sat up now, he could cut back under and square him off, but he toughed it out, and because he toughed it out, that’s pushed him off the track.
“It was late. The problem is, by then, Pedro’s already committed. He’s already turning in.
“Here’s the shot. Look. You can’t pass from there. There’s no way! You’re on the absolute limit. Look how wide Marc goes there!
“He’s about two bike lengths too far back to try the move, but I love that he tried the move. That’s why we like Marc Marquez. That’s why we love racing. He’ll give it a go, and so will Pedro back.”
What did Marc Marquez have to say about his penalty?
Speaking in parc ferme, Marquez said he respected the stewards’ decision without giving his immediate opinion. He was still satisfied with the overall outcome after finishing second.
The #93 had hoped to control the race after polesitter Marco Bezzecchi went down, but Acosta mounted a surprise assault.
Marquez didn’t receive any notable penalties for wheel-to-wheel conduct last season. For the most part, he was leading races comfortably.
While fans don’t want races to be decided by the stewards, they will at least hope Saturday’s scintillating Sprint is a precursor for the remainder of the season.
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