Apr 14, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Marc Marquez (93) of Spain and Gresini Racing MotoGP before the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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MotoGP News: Marc Marquez Sacrificed Health For Podium Finish At German Grand Prix
Alex Harrington | Jul 7, 2024
Apr 14, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Marc Marquez (93) of Spain and Gresini Racing MotoGP before the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2024; Austin, TX, USA; Marc Marquez (93) of Spain and Gresini Racing MotoGP before the MotoGP Grand Prix of The Americas at Circuit of The Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
In an extraordinary display of resilience and determination, Marc Marquez, riding for Gresini Ducati, overcame severe physical pain and a series of technical hurdles to secure a second-place finish at the German MotoGP at Sachsenring. Despite a painful crash in practice that resulted in a broken finger and rib pain, Marquez chose to forego a bike modification that might have eased his discomfort, opting instead for the setup he believed offered the best chance of success.
Marquez’s weekend was fraught with challenges from the outset. After his crash, he faced a disappointing qualifying session, starting the race in 13th position. His race day was marked by a collision with Franco Morbidelli that shattered his motorcycle’s screen and triggered the inflation of his airbag, significantly reducing his comfort and wind protection. Remarkably, this setback seemed to fuel Marquez’s competitive spirit. According to his crew chief, Frankie Carchedi: “Adrenaline took over. He set his fastest first sector of the weekend without a screen, without wind protection.”
The weekend was chaotic, with Carchedi noting:
“In all my years, I’ve never had a weekend like this. You always make a plan – how many laps, what bike you will use. We might as well not have bothered! Because nothing went to plan!” Marquez encountered technical issues that forced a switch to a secondary bike during qualifying and further adjustments on race day that were ultimately rejected by the racer in favor of sticking with his original setup.
Physically, Marquez was visibly constrained by the inflated airbag, which heightened the pain from his existing injuries. Commentator Sylvain Guintoli pointed out: