MotoGP TV direction should be ashamed after Alex Marquez crash replays at Catalan Grand Prix

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The Catalan Grand Prix was the scene of a horror accident for Alex Marquez, and some shameful TV direction in the aftermath of the crash.

Following his Sprint victory on Saturday, Marquez came into the Catalan Grand Prix as the favourite. However, the Gresini rider got off to a difficult start, as contact with Jorge Martin left him behind Pedro Acosta and Raul Fernandez.

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The Spaniard and the Ducati’s strength at the Catalunya circuit saw him climb back up to second and in with a shot at the lead. He fought well with Pedro Acosta into lap 11, but down the back straight, disaster struck.

The KTM’s rider engine cut out, and Marquez could not react in time to get out of the way. He smashed into Acosta and was sent flying into the gravel trap and into the wall, splitting his GP26 in two and scattering debris onto the track.

READ MORE: Everything to know about Alex Marquez from net worth to career stats

Replays of Alex Marquez’s Catalan Grand Prix crash were unacceptable

Race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio was collected in the crash as he collided with a wheel of the Gresini rider’s bike. Raul Fernandez was also said to have been struck by debris.

Marquez was taken to hospital as the race was immediately red-flagged. Marshals worked tirelessly to clear the track for the restart, but TV direction did themselves no favours for what followed.

TV coverage soon showed replays of the accident, with horrifying camera footage showing that Marquez had no way of knowing what happened to Acosta’s bike, or no way of avoiding him.

It is worth noting that it was confirmed that Marquez was conscious after the crash, but even there, the seriousness of the situation was clear to see. Gresini boss Nadia Padovani was in clear distress in the garage after the accident.

Under no circumstances should replays have been shown until fans, riders and teams got official confirmation that Marquez was completely fine.

His condition is currently unknown besides the news that he is in hospital. Rider safety, and privacy after a crash, should be the number one priority, and it is absolutely unacceptable to see replays being shown so soon after a horrifying accident.