Gresini condemn journalists over graphic Alex Marquez crash photo

Marquez, who races for the Gresini team, was involved in a massive crash while battling for the lead with KTM's Pedro Acosta when Acosta's engine suddenly cut-out on the back-straight. With no time to react, Alex Marquez slammed into the back of him and was shot off the side of the track at high speed before being thrown head-first onto the ground.

The shocking incident brought out a red flag and a lengthy stoppage as the rider was carefully transported from the track, but images quickly circulated of the #73 lying unconscious on the grass at the side of the road. While Alex has since posted a posted a positive update from the hospital in Barcelona, the extent of his injuries were only known hours after the conclusion of the race, which was won by VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio, a rider who was also caught up in the massive crash and injured his hand.

Once it was declared by medical staff that Marquez was conscious, replays of the incident were then shown around the circuit and on international broadcasts, but one photo in particular drew significant backlash from fans, journalists and eventually Gresini themselves, thus raising serious questions about ethics in journalism when it comes to covering such extreme scenarios.

While crashes, injuries and even fatalities are an unavoidable part of motorsport and extreme sports in general, there are unwritten rules about publishing graphic content when accidents do happen. Generally, out of respect to family and friends of the athlete afflicted in the incident, most outlets refrain from publicizing anything until official announcements are made by race organisers.

El Mundo, which is not a specialized motorsport outlet but a general news site, were quick to jump on the Marquez incident and publish an article with an attached photograph of the stricken rider lying face-down. The story was already up before anyone knew Alex's condition, and it was only after the race that Gresini responded, urging them to show more respect and slamming the publication's journalistic integrity: