Marquez breaks silence on Bezzecchi sprint collision

Marc Marquez has given his first reaction to the collision with Marco Bezzecchi in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint at Lusail, which followed Bezzecchi crashing out and the race being red-flagged after Pecco Bagnaia's fall. Marquez did not mention Bezzecchi when asked about the incident in parc ferme, saying the sprint was strange because of the red flag and that he hoped Bagnaia was all right.

Marquez said he had defended well and that his airbag deployed on the impact at Turn 1, which he said explained why Jorge Martin attacked him. The FIM MotoGP stewards investigated the collision but took no further action, a decision that drew a negative reaction from Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola.

The collision leaves Bezzecchi 79 points behind Marquez, and he needs to reduce that gap to below 74 on Sunday to keep his title hopes alive. Marquez can wrap up the championship on Sunday if he wins and Martin does not score.