Marc Marquez at centre of Qatar MotoGP dispute as Ducati boss speaks out
Marquez has taken centre stage in the Qatar debate (Credit: Apex Agency)
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.
Marc Marquez’s media silence around the Qatar Grand Prix has earned him a staunch defence from his team manager, Davide Tardozzi.
Reports emerged during the Australian Grand Prix weekend that the MotoGP grid held a meeting over whether they should race at Lusail given safety concerns over the armed conflict in the Middle East.
The Qatar race takes place in two weekends’ time, from November 6 to 8, and MotoGP’s organisers insist it will take place.
Riders haven’t spoken out publicly on the matter, and given Marquez’s profile as by far the biggest figure in the sport, his silence has been questioned by sections of the media.
That take was put to Ducati team manager Tardozzi live on Sky Italia, and he launched into a strong defence of his star rider.
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Ducati boss furious over criticism of Marc Marquez
He began: "As for Marc, he's simply the most charismatic person; so many riders who express opinions on the outside that are much, much more forceful than Marc's, then when it comes to a meeting in front of the organiser, they remain silent.
“And that's a bit like that; it's a waste of time. That said, then you blame Marquez for being the only one who carries the voice of all the other riders, who has the courage to speak out despite other riders who, as I say and repeat, say much worse things than him.
“He was quite intelligent in saying, 'Let's try to mediate the situation, to bring about situations that can guarantee us that there's an evacuation, a plan B, that everything is in place for us to be safe.'
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“That's what he asked for, but I repeat, there were many others who said worse things, but then didn't have the courage to repeat them in front of the organiser. That annoys me."
"So many riders who express opinions on the outside that are much, much more forceful than Marc's, then when it comes to a meeting in front of the organiser, they remain silent.- Davide Tardozzi
Tardozzi was asked why he’s suddenly spoken out on the matter, and said he wasn’t happy with how the narrative was turning against his nine-time champion.
Tardozzi insists Marquez never refused to race in Qatar
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He explained: "I read that Marc was blamed, as if he were the one who didn't want to go to Qatar.
“That's not the case; Marc simply asked, like many others, for an organisational safety plan, no more, no less.
“He didn't say 'I don't want to go.' And I repeat, for the third time, there were those who said they wouldn't go, but then in front of the organisers, they didn't say it again."
He added: "Of course, there are situations that might make you think it would be better not to go.
“Then, when the safety conditions are in place, the evacuation plan, rather than just the guarantees that if something happens, there won't be any problems, we go."
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MotoGP teams and organisers face Qatar Grand Prix decision
VR46 Racing team boss Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci has also commented on the matter, saying he thinks there’s a ‘100 per cent chance’ MotoGP goes to Qatar, but added that he has a duty to let his riders decide.
Tardozzi also made a similar point, suggesting the final decision will be made between the teams and the organisers.
He finished: "It's clear that the team reasonably has the contract with the organiser. The drivers, if I may use the expression, are salaried employees of the team, so the organiser, beyond listening to the drivers' voices, rightly so, has a relationship with the team.
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“It's clear that the organiser then has to make decisions with the team."
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