Why Marc Marquez ran to the pits in tense COTA MotoGP moment revealed

Marc Marquez used an unusual tactic at the start of the Americas GP, causing chaos.

Marc Marquez has revealed why he ran across the grid and into the pitlane at the start of the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas at COTA. The tense and unusual moment interrupted the broadcasts and led to other riders following in the footsteps of the Spanish rider.

However, what looked like a spur-of-the-moment choice was actually a strategy that the Spaniard had been contemplating in the seven minutes before the start of the race. As rain had plagued the track throughout the weekend, Marquez and his Ducati team had opted for rain tyres, but the 32-year-old could see that this was the wrong choice of strategy as the race start neared.

While speaking to MotoGP.com after the race, which he was forced to retire from after a crash at turn 4, Marquez revealed the reason for the odd decision:

"I really know the rules. And how to do, and how to be on the limit all the time.

"And yeah, I asked to [Marco] Rigamonti my chief mechanic, seven minutes before the start, if the second bike was ready. He told me ‘yes’. And then I said to him 'maybe I will leave the grid'. Why? Because I predicted when I will leave - I saw that the rain tyres were [already] not the correct strategy - and I predicted that when I will leave, more than 10 riders will follow me and then they'll stop the race. And that's what happened."

Commenting to the media, he added:

"I was convinced about my strategy. If they didn’t follow me, I’d start last and I’d try to come back during the race because I had the pace."

Marc Marquez, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

Marquez is referring to Article 1.18.1 of the MotoGP regulations, which states that if "more than 10 riders" abandon their grid slots, it will lead to an aborted start.

Although more than 10 riders didn't follow, the race directors decided to delay the race start anyway. Race director Mike Webb stated:

“We called for a delay and then quick start procedure due to safety concerns. Given the number of riders, bikes and pit staff on the grid and in the pitlane area, it was impossible to start the warm-up lap.

"A new race start was the safest way to respond to the unprecedented circumstances at the start of the grand prix.

"We will analyse the situation together with the teams and revisit the regulations.”