Marc Marquez issues surprising reaction to 130mph crash at Spanish Grand Prix

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Marc Marquez sounded surprisingly relaxed after a high-speed crash at the Spanish Grand Prix inflicted further damage on his MotoGP title bid.

Marquez is now 44 points behind championship leader Marco Bezzecchi after crashing out on lap two at Jerez. The Ducati rider lost control moments after losing the lead to his brother Alex, who eventually won the race.

The Spaniard was on course for a perfect weekend after taking his first pole position of the year and winning a remarkable Sprint race, but the Sunday crash was his biggest error of the season to date.

‘Tomorrow it’s Monday – Marc Marquez’s surprising comments after Spanish Grand Prix crash

Neil Hodgson says Marquez was surrounded by 16 Ducati engineers in the garage after Sunday’s warm-up, potentially an indication that the team were experimenting.

But as he explained to TNT Sports after his DNF, Marquez’s early exit from the race means he can give little feedback on the bike’s behaviour. Teammate Francesco Bagnaia retired on lap 13 after a failure.

But even after a 130mph crash (based on Hodgson’s estimate) that puts his title hopes in serious danger, Marquez says he ‘enjoyed the weekend’. He felt his ceiling in the race was third.

Here’s how the championship looks after the Spanish GP! Is it Aprilia’s to lose now?

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“I didn’t understand the feeling of the bike on the track – on one lap and a half, it was impossible,” he said. “We enjoyed the weekend. I rode well on Friday, I rode well yesterday. Today, we did a mistake, but tomorrow is Monday and it’s another week.

“I predicted Alex was faster than everybody. My target was to try to work on that third, fourth position, fight there. Unfortunately, we lost the front there at turn 11.

‘I’m struggling with that front feeling’ – Marc Marquez looks to Jerez test

For Ducati in particular, Monday’s test is critical. The Borgo Panigale outfit are now enduring their longest run without a podium since 2014.

Alex Marquez’s victory on the GP26 for Gresini will give the team some hope, but Marc says he currently lacks ‘front feeling’ – the same complaint Bagnaia has been making since the start of last year.

“We have an important test,” he said. “We’ll try to improve our speed. At the moment, I’m struggling with that front feeling. Let’s say if we can improve.”

The focus up to this point has been on Marquez’s physical condition, but now it’s clear that he has significant mechanical concerns about this year’s Ducati, too.