The Ducati riders, Marc Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio, shared their impressions about the incident involving four riders at the first corner of the MotoGP in Mandalika during Saturday’s sprint.
While the Aprilias of Raul Fernández and Marco Bezzecchi ended up falling after having occupied outside positions – with Fernández blaming Bezzecchi after the race – the two Ducatis competing on the inside played an important role.
With the expected speed advantage from the two Aprilias, both Di Giannantonio and Márquez were eager to gain the position at the first corner. The riders approached the corner occupying four rows, with Di Giannantonio on the extreme inside and Márquez braking beside him.
The VR46 rider, known as ‘Diggia’, explained after the race that Márquez touched his left foot with his right knee, causing his Ducati to shift into first gear. This small collision caused Márquez to lift his GP26, with consequences for Bezzecchi and, ultimately, for Fernández.
“I don’t know anything, guys,” Di Giannantonio commented. “You have to ask the others. I was on the inside and just made my braking and another rider hit me.”
The immediate analysis of the replays confirms this statement, with the ‘other rider’ being Márquez.
“He made me go into first gear. So when I exited the first corner, I was at the rev limiter in first. So, honestly, you have to ask the others.”
The touch explains why Di Giannantonio emerged from the first corner in fourth position despite having done so in the perfect position.
Márquez did not mention the touch with Di Giannantonio during his interview after the race, summarizing the incident as a case of too many riders competing to win the corner, with incorrect judgments in braking.
“The first corner is easy to explain,” said the factory rider. “Four bikes in parallel. I think Bezzecchi was looking at Raul to brake a little later, I was looking at Bezzecchi to do the same, and Diggia was looking at me. The result? Four riders out of line and Martin going from fifth to first. It was tough and at the limit, but it’s racing. The first corner is like that.”
Di Giannantonio also assured that he has no regrets about trying to maximize his position in the first corner. “Ah, well, we are here to race. Theoretically, the one in front wins. So, of course, you always try to be in front.”
The pressure to lead into the first corner was justified by the subsequent race, which had almost no real overtaking despite an abundance of drama.