MÁRQUEZ FORCED TO RETIRE DUE TO AN ENGINE’S PROBLEM

Marc Marquez was forced to retire on lap 14 while fighting for the victory.

Marc was in the lead group from the beginning having started well from pole position and he set a new race-lap record of 2’01.560” on lap 10. Then, while closely chasing eventual winner Andrea Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi, he suffered a problem with his bike’s engine. It was Marc’s first DNF caused by a technical failure since he entered the MotoGP class with the Repsol Honda Team in 2013.

Marc is now a close second in the championship standings, 9 points behind Dovizioso.

Marc Marquez: “Today was really unlucky, as I was feeling very good on the bike and was there with the others, just trying to manage the race and tyres, especially the front as the temperature was higher than yesterday and I wanted to save it so to attack in the end. I had already seen that Dovi had something more than Viñales and Rossi, but I thought I could try and fight with him. So, everything was going well when I suddenly had a problem with the engine at the end of the straight. It’s a shame of course but that’s something that can happen in racing, and it was the first time for me with Honda. The positives are that we were fast here, as we have been at other tracks, and that we’re still there in the Championship. Zero points today, but I’m still feeling good with the bike and am looking forward to the next races.”