Marc Marquez has surgery, he will miss the GP in Argentina

Marc Marquez has surgery, he will miss the GP in Argentina


PORTIMAO Marc Marquez won't run the GP d'Argentina next Sunday. The Spanish pilot of the Honda underwent surgery in the morning at the Dexeus clinic in Barcelona for a fracture of the first metacarpal of his right hand following the accident caused yesterday in the first laps at Portimao, when he overwhelmed the unfortunate Oliveira: "The operation - writes the Repsol Honda team - consisted of a closed reduction of the fracture and its internal fixation with two screws". The Cannibal will not be there on Sunday at Termas de Rio Hondo. At this point he will serve the sanction of the two long lap penalties in Texas (even if the sanction explicitly indicated the Argentine circuit), and it is a real setback for the Cannibal: "Austin is the track he absolutely prefers, the one where he absolutely wants to do a one-two finish - sprint race and traditional gp - to make a big comeback in the race for the title. But with two 'long' laps to go, the plan gets complicated".

He wanted to run, despite his broken thumb

"I have a bike that is still inferior to the others. But we have found speed again, on Saturday in Portimao I set two track records and took pole". Marquez has a perfect strategy for this season, after the long ordeal following the crash in Jerez in 2020. "Honda and my technicians seem to have finally found the right path: soon I could have a perfect bike, have an amazing second half of the season. In the meantime, I'm trying to survive: to remain attached to Bagnaia and the best in every possible way". Here, the problem lies right there: "in all ways". A choice that for the eight-time world champion - according to many - means driving without scruples, with no interest in one's own safety and that of others. After the spectacular - incredibly, not dramatic - accident on the third lap yesterday, someone's words came back to mind Valentino Rossi, when in 2018 (never mind the 'contact' of Sepang 2015, which is better) he launched an appeal to the world championship: "Something has to be done, because in the end someone will get hurt. Marquez has no respect for his opponents. He points his leg in full and knows that you fall, not him". Five years later, history repeats itself.

MotoGP Portugal, Bagnaia wins again: on the podium Vinales and Bezzecchi. Madness Marquez, overwhelmed Oliveira

by our correspondent Massimo Calandri


"Marquez, stop!": the exasperated pilots

In the paddock almost all the riders have had enough. On Saturday, the Cannibal ran through qualifying shamelessly, shamelessly following Bastianini and making Bagnaia and all of Ducati lose their patience. On Sunday in the race he started aggressive as usual, while Pecco wisely tried to avoid the tussle on the first lap, then after 3 laps he first hit violently Martin, then he hit poor Oliveira. "Again, he went beyond the limits. And don't come to talk about brake problems: if that were the case, he would have braked earlier", commented the Portuguese from Aprilia, embittered and in pain after the spectacular crash. The Spaniard from Ducati Pramac, who broke his toe ("and I certainly hurt my ankle") was even tougher in his comments: "It's always him, it's already happened to me more than once. I hope to finally remedy this situation".

Marquez overwhelms Oliveira

Marquez overwhelms Oliveira (afp)

Marc's apologies. And boos from the audience

Aleix Espargarò, Quartararo, it's all a chorus: enough, Marquez! Only the trio on the podium (Bagnaia, Vinales, Bezzecchi) speak of a "mistake", which however must be "sanctioned". Yesterday evening the Cannibal walked around the paddock with a gloomy look, making a thousand excuses: "I made a big mistake, I'm sorry. I'm glad that no one got hurt, apart from myself. At that point I didn't want to overdo: I an inferior bike and to be with the others I have to brake later. This time the front wheel locked up, and when I released the brakes I lost control". Above all, he asked for forgiveness from Oliveira and the Portuguese public. But he booed him loudly.



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