The 2023 MotoGP French Grand Prix at Le Mans was a race full of on track incidents. 8 riders DNF the grand prix. Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) was handed a 3 place grid drop penalty for the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello. Gresini Ducati protested the decision but their efforts proved to be futile as the FIM struck down the challenge. The FIM described the move that caused the crash as “overly ambitious”. Adding that the penalty was granted due to, “irresponsible riding causing danger to other competitors.”
Marquez explained the incident from his point of view to Crash.net, “I was behind Johann and after turn 5 I was not expecting him to be braking really soon. Then I was trying to avoid him on the inside.”
They closed the gas so early and then I touched just a little bit Brad. Brad’s line is really inside there and he was trying to defend and I just touched him a little bit, but I saw that he lost some positions. So I’m sorry for that because it was not my intention to go against Brad. I just touched him just a little bit, but you know, for him it was a big one because he went really, really off wide.”
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