Marc Marquez defended over Bezzecchi crash as Aprilia boss criticised
Bezzecchi and Marquez crashed in Qatar (Credit: Red Bull Content Pool)
Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Former MotoGP race winner Marco Melandri has had the final say on the Marc Marquez vs Marco Bezzecchi crash.
The pair of title contenders came together in the Sprint Race at the Qatar Grand Prix in controversial fashion.
Bezzecchi lunged at Marquez at Turn 1 on Lap 4, and they made contact, with the former hitting the deck and ending his race.
Marquez went on to win the Sprint, and Aprilia weren’t happy, with the Spaniard now on the brink of a 10th world title.
Those seemingly most appalled were Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola, who shook his head and sarcastically applauded, while Fabio Di Giannantonio told Marquez to be careful.
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Now the dust has settled, Melandri thinks they’re both in the wrong.
Melandri insists Marquez was not to blame for Bezzecchi crash
"Only someone who's never ridden a motorcycle on the track can blame Marquez, because he had nothing to do with it,” the five-time race winner said.
“Marquez was on his normal line from the previous corner. Bezzecchi's misfortune was that Marc was lifting the bike; he had more grip, and upon contact, his front wheel lifted, and he crashed. It was a racing incident."
Turning to Rivola, who doubled down on his comments after Sunday’s Grand Prix, Melandri thought his reaction wasn’t fitting.
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Aprilia boss criticised for reaction to Qatar Sprint incident
He continued: "It seemed like an inappropriate reaction; a team leader must maintain a certain composure.
“I wasn't expecting this prank. It's true that he was elegant on television, but in seven minutes he mentioned Marquez 22 times.
“This shows he's suffering from him and that the only consolation is the thought that it was Marc who beat him, not the bike."
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Finally, the former rival of Valentino Rossi found it amusing that fans of the Italian were jumping on Marquez for the incident.
Melandri questions Valentino Rossi fans over double standards
He finished: "I wonder why in Argentina in 2015, when Marquez was on the inside, and Rossi changed trajectory, causing Marc to crash, it was Marquez's fault, and now it's his fault again.
“What determines who is right: sympathies or what happens on the track?"
As a result of the crash, Bezzecchi was put on the brink of exiting the title fight, but he won Sunday’s Grand Prix to keep himself mathematically in with a chance.
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However, his possibilities couldn’t be lower, as he needs to collect maximum points from the final two races, and Marquez to take zero.
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