Mir fuming at Alex Marquez over "crazy" first-lap Motegi clash
Long lap penalty for Marquez in Australia little consolation for disappointed Honda man
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
2024 Japanese GP - Sunday
Honda rider Joan Mir was left fuming after being taken out of the Japanese Grand Prix by Ducati rival Alex Marquez on Sunday, in an incident the 2020 world champion labelled “crazy”.
Marquez hit Mir from behind on the first lap at Motegi, resulting in the bizarre sight of the Honda towing the Ducati through the gravel trap after Marquez was thrown out of the saddle.
“When I was in the middle of Turn 12, he hit me massively on the back," he said. "His bike got stuck between my seat and my swing arm. I went straight to the gravel. I mean, it’s unbelievable. What happened is crazy.
“It’s normal that I am angry. It’s not the first time things like this have happened with him.
“It’s something similar to what happened [between Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia] at Aragon. It’s not exactly the same, but similar. I was clearly in front and [in that case] Bagnaia was trying to overtake. But my bike landed up in the same place as Pecco’s.”
Marquez accepted responsibility for the incident in a post-race statement issued by his Gresini Ducati team.
“I made a mistake at turn 11 that sent me off line. While trying to get back to my position I had a coming together with Mir, which led to the crash. Our bikes tangled together and I apologised to him for what happened.”
Joan Mir, Repsol Honda Team crash
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Marquez did not, however, agree with the decision to issue him with a long lap penalty after the race.
“We’ll have to perform a long-lap penalty in Australia, even though I disagree with it: seven days ago, at Turn 3 another rider hit me the same way and nothing happened.
“This shows that rules don’t apply the same way to everybody, but it is what it is. We’ll make the most of this lesson.”
Mir, who fell in the Saturday sprint, believes he was on his way to one of the better results of what has been an extremely tough season for Honda.
“I made a good start, I was up to 14th," he said, having qualified 17th for Honda's home race. "Then I overtook a group of riders that went wide at Turn 11, so I was very close to the top 10 already.
“I was able to be a lot more competitive than in Mandalika. It was some of the best pace I’ve had all year, but I couldn’t put it all together. Yesterday was my fault and today it was the fault of another rider.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.- The Motorsport.com Team
Share Or Save This Story
Pedro Acosta fears intense MotoGP format means shorter rider careers
Francesco Bagnaia just trying to "survive" on Sundays as tyre troubles continue
Five things we learned at the MotoGP Thai GP
Alex Marquez still involved in Ducati’s MotoGP development despite KTM move
Why Alex Marquez has been struggling in MotoGP this year
Why Gresini has flirted with leaving Ducati in MotoGP
Latest news
Jacky Ickx: If 2026 F1 rules grow audiences "that’s fine, it’s all that matters”
Comparing top Formula 1 drivers to NBA stars
IndyCar Officiating confirms Scot Elkins as Managing Director of Officiating
Formula E launches innovative Gen4 car at Circuit Paul Ricard
Feature
Did MotoGP make its Brazil return too soon?
Where MotoGP’s penalty system still lacks clarity
Five things we learned at the MotoGP Thai GP
Five MotoGP riders who need a big 2026 season
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Top Comments