Francesco Bagnaia fears ‘big problem’ over likely cause of Alex Marquez’s ‘horrific’ Assen crash

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Francesco Bagnaia fears the high temperatures at Assen this weekend could be a “big problem”, after he blamed Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer’s “nasty” crashes on it.

The Gresini riders had big crashes at the end of the timed pre-qualifying practice session on Friday at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. They were not alone, either, as Aprilia star Jorge Martin also crashed on his out-lap to do his flying run when he lost the front on the kerb at Turn 12.

Aldeguer caused a lengthy yellow flag period when he crashed at Turn 11, after the rear end of the 21-year-old’s satellite Ducati GP25 stepped out through the corner. While the crash in itself was not huge, the Spaniard’s ensuing trip through the gravel made him flip four times.

Soon after Aldeguer was carried away on a stretcher, Marquez also crashed at Turn 11 when the 30-year-old had a highside on entry. Both Gresini riders were initially taken to the track’s medical centre for checks, but Aldeguer was soon moved to a local hospital for further tests.

Francesco Bagnaia blames Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer’s practice crashes on the temperature at Assen

Marquez offered an update on Friday that he was “fine” other than “a few scratches” due to his crash in practice at Assen, after suffering a contusion to his right shoulder and abrasions to his left arm”. However, Marquez will undergo a fitness test on Saturday morning at Assen.

READ MORE: How to watch the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix on TV, plus Assen weather forecast

Initially, Gresini issued statements on Aldeguer and Marquez’s conditions after their crashes on Friday and noted that both would require fitness tests. But after visiting Dr Angel Charte, Aldeguer has been declared unfit for the Dutch GP because of a fracture to the T7 vertebra.

Bagnaia expected to see a red flag for Aldeguer’s crash in the timed practice session topped by Marco Bezzecchi at Assen. The Ducati ace was also not surprised to see the red flag after Marquez’s crash in practice, as the Italian feels the Spaniard’s crash on Friday was “horrific”.

“I was expecting a red flag after Fermin Aldeguer’s crash, because it takes a long time to clear the bikes and get the rider off the track,” Bagnaia said, via Motorsport.com:

“But they didn’t bring out the red flag, so I started a lap later. But the yellow flag was still flying, but he wasn’t on the track, so it took them a while to take it down.

“And then, with Alex Marquez, it was the right decision to bring out the red flag, because the crash he had was horrific. Both Gresini riders suffered very nasty crashes.”

Aldeguer and Marquez’s crashes and the other incidents seen during Friday’s timed practice session at the Dutch GP convinced Bagnaia that the boiling conditions seen at Assen were to blame. He also suspects the temperature will be a “big problem” for the rest of the weekend.

Bagnaia continued: “I think all the crashes we saw were down to the temperature. It’s the first time I’ve felt like I’m back in India again, temperature-wise.

“And the tyres were struggling, too, because the more laps you did, the more the tyre temperature fluctuated.

“If you start at the front, there’s no problem. But if you’re behind someone, you could have a big problem with the front end.”

Big crashes like the ones Marquez and Aldeguer endured during practice at the Dutch GP on Friday were the last thing that either Gresini rider needed. Marquez is still making his return from the injuries he sustained as a result of his crash with KTM’s Pedro Acosta in Barcelona.

Marquez required surgery to insert a plate in his shoulder after breaking his right collarbone in the Catalan GP, and also suffering a small fracture of his C7 vertebrae. The Cervera native only missed the rounds at Mugello and Balaton Park, before briefly making a return at Brno.

Gresini star Marquez withdrew from the Czech Grand Prix weekend after qualifying to focus on his recovery, which has potentially now been at least disrupted by his crash in practice at Assen. Aldeguer is also still recovering after fracturing the shaft of his left femur in January.

Aldeguer missed all of pre-season testing and the opening round in Thailand after requiring surgery in January as a result of a crash while training on a road bike in Valencia. The injury has not been a huge problem for Aldeguer when on a bike, with the Murcian securing P2 in the Catalan Grand Prix upon the second restart after Marquez and Johann Zarco’s crashes.