Saturday at the 2023 Portuguese Grand Prix observed MotoGP stage its first at any time sprint race, with Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia successful the 12-lap contest as poleman Marquez completed the podium.
Several riders had been essential of the driving aggression found in the dash race, with Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo contacting the contest “a jungle” and warning “a large crash” will materialize before long if it carries on.
But Marquez – who has been an advocate for dash races given that it was introduced very last August – states the amount of aggression for the shortened race should have arrive as no surprise provided what is normally seen when a grand prix is crimson-flagged and restarted.
The Honda rider also feels the Portugal sprint might not be replicated in the subsequent rounds since just about every rider was dialled into the circuit adhering to two times of screening at the track a before this month.
“I mean, about the dash race, when they suggest the dash race it’s for that [for it to be a more attacking race],” Marquez mentioned.
“It’s not needed to have the to start with sprint race to realise that absolutely everyone will attack, like when we have a pink flag in the extensive race.
“But specifically in this circuit, we need to hold out extra for the other circuits. Here, we have a quite related tempo to everybody for the reason that of the check, [we’ve all done] lots of laps in this circuit, everybody is in the best way.
“So, let us see. But we are taking a great deal of hazard for the duration of all the weekend, because the previous 15 minutes of FP2 is a qualy, then one more qualy, then the sprint race, then tomorrow the long race.
“So, we will see. Of study course, currently I was a little bit calm. At the start out I was intense, but then relaxed because my place was better than what I envisioned and primary focus on was top rated 5.
“Step-by-action I started out to eliminate and I was intense once again, but it was more or significantly less the similar danger I choose in a typical race.”
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Workforce
Image by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Sprint winner Bagnaia claims the criticism of the aggression ranges found in the dash are at odds with complaints built final calendar year about the challenges of overtaking on fashionable MotoGP bikes, and feels riders really don’t want to attack the Saturday contest too hard provided only 12 details are on provide instead of 25.
“Last year it was [said] it was unachievable to overtake because of the aerodynamics, for a lot of good reasons,” Bagnaia said.
“And now it is a ‘jungle’ with the very same aerodynamics. I was not powering, so I really don’t know what transpired.
“For absolutely sure to make an overtake now, you have to get some pitfalls, you have to be aggressive.
“It’s like this and you have to be ready. For confident the race on Saturday you have to tactic in a sleek way, due to the fact if you acquire you get 12 points, but it truly is not the 25 of Sunday.
“So, I assume you can deal with to just be continual and check out to be in the entrance. If you have to make an overtake you have to be a bit aggressive, but it is like this.”
Second-placed Jorge Martin thinks the aggression in the dash was purely for the reason that “everyone was a bit nervous”, and that “race by race it will be extra relaxed”.
