Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

MotoGP Jerez: Marquez learned nothing from 'strange' FP4 crash

Marc Marquez believes his "strange" crash in MotoGP's fourth practice session at Jerez is something he'll have to keep in mind during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix

Honda rider Marquez suffered his second fall of the weekend in FP4 when he fell at Turn 2. He had earlier crashed at the Dry Sac corner in the second Friday practice.

The Spaniard was confused over the cause of the second crash, as he said he had not been pushing on that lap, and admitted he didn't "learn" anything from it as a result.

When asked if that crash affected his qualifying, where he was fifth, he said: "No, [it] didn't affect me, but [it] was a crash that I didn't learn about.

"For example, from the crash yesterday I learn, but this crash I don't... because I was slow. Dani [Pedrosa] was in front, and I say 'okay, this lap I slow down'.

"I was not pushing that lap. [It's] strange, but something we will need to consider for the race."

Marquez was the early leader of qualifying, but couldn't improve in the second half of the session and he dropped down to fifth.

The reigning champion admitted he made "big mistakes" in the beginning of both of his runs, which cost him dearly.

"Today of course I expect more because the target was to try to fight for the pole position," he said.

"On one hand I am happy because the rhythm is good, I feel good with the bike and tomorrow will be important to choose the [correct] rear tyre. The front tyre we will go with the hard one.

"On the other hand it was not my best qualifying, [the] real potential of the tyre was on the first lap, and with both tyres I did a big mistake in the first lap and I lose many tenths."

Marquez said he was considering emulating polesitter Cal Crutchlow's strategy, as the Briton had three runs in Q2, switching to his second bike during the mid-session lull.

"Today Cal did the correct strategy," added Marquez. "I was thinking about that strategy but [it] was not possible because the second bike was with another set-up.

"We work a lot for the race [today], [I'm] disappointed for the qualifying, but anyway [I will] start fifth so we are close."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article MotoGP Jerez: Crutchlow breaks lap record to claim fourth pole
Next article Cal Crutchlow wants to be 'rewarded' by Honda for his recent form

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe