Yamaha slams Marquez's "not fair" MotoGP qualifying tactics
Yamaha MotoGP boss Massimo Meregalli has slammed Marc Marquez’s tactics against Maverick Vinales in Italian Grand Prix qualifying as “not fair” and hopes for Race Direction intervention.
The Honda rider followed Vinales out of pitlane in both of his runs in the first 15-minute shootout session at Mugello on Saturday afternoon.
Vinales was visibly furious at this, with the Yamaha rider even aborting an outlap to come through pitlane again to try and shake Marquez – only for the Honda man to follow him through.
In need of a lap to try to get into Q2, Vinales had no choice but to push with Marquez behind, with the Honda rider able to top Q1 chasing the Yamaha.
Vinales was set to join him in the second session but made a mistake at the last corner on his final lap and will have to start 13th instead.
Asked about what happened in Q1 following Fabio Quartararo’s Italian GP pole lap, Meregalli told motogp.com: “On the other side of the garage unfortunately… looks like Marc Marquez is getting better and better because he starts to behave as he used to do.
“And I really did something he really should not have to do. I don’t want to finish what I would really like to say.
“I hope that maybe Race Direction will decide for something because for me his behaviour was not fair.”
Maverick Vinales, Yamaha Factory Racing
Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
This isn’t the first time this season Marquez has copped criticism from a fellow rider for a similar tactic, with Joan Mir calling this “dangerous” during the Portugal weekend.
Commenting on Quartararo’s fourth pole in a row, Meregalli noted the importance of the front row now Yamaha has a front holeshot device, but expects a “really difficult” race.
“The job of Fabio has been super and now I think the outcome of the race will depend on different things,” he added.
“Maybe the managing of the tyre, the temperature, the conditions in general.
“But you know, for us to start on the front row is very important, also with the new front start device I think it will be another little help for us.
“For sure we worked quite well in this side of the garage during this weekend and the tyre degradation.
“I think has been improved session by session.
“I just expect tomorrow will be a really difficult and tough race for everybody. There will be more than one rider fighting for the victory.”
Related video
Mugello MotoGP: Quartararo smashes lap record to take pole
Vinales doesn’t blame Marquez for Mugello MotoGP Q1 exit
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Motorsport.com, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock of Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. We analyse what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP's Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How praise for Honda's MotoGP bike has given way to doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's win was vital not only for his title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations
The MotoGP rookie fighting two fronts in his debut year
Darryn Binder has found himself in the unenviable position as MotoGP's most under-pressure rookie in 2022 having made the step directly from Moto3 with a reputation as an over-aggressive rider. This hasn't been an easy thing to shake at the start of the season, but he believes tangible progress is being made
How ‘Beast’ mode is putting Ducati in 2022 MotoGP title contention
Enea Bastianini’s second win of the 2022 campaign at COTA puts him back in the lead of the standings and once again showed the best Ducati package is still the 2021 bike. Those closest to Bastianini tell Motorsport.com why he’s so good on the GP21 relative to his factory counterparts.
How Espargaro helped Aprilia shed MotoGP's underdog tag
Aleix Espargaro became MotoGP's newest winner in a thrilling Argentina Grand Prix in which he also proved the merits of the Aprilia project. After six years of hard graft, both parties have reaped the rewards they have long thought they deserved. But it was several key moments in that journey that led both to that momentous Sunday at Termas de Rio Hondo.