Marc Marquez has disclosed that a persistent issue with his brakes caused him to crash out of the lead during MotoGP’s Grand Prix of the Americas. Marquez, who has achieved six victories at COTA throughout his MotoGP career, had just overtaken Pedro Acosta to take the lead when he lost control of his bike in the hard-braking zone at Turn 11.
The incident initially appeared to be a result of Marquez entering the corner at too high a speed, and while that was partially true, Marquez explained that the root cause was his front brake failing to respond. He expressed disappointment, stating that despite the brake problems, he had the speed and feeling necessary to perform well in the race. However, the front brake issue persisted throughout the race, making it difficult for him to ride.
Marquez attempted to rectify the problem by leading the race as quickly as possible, hoping that the temperature change might improve the brake’s performance. Unfortunately, when he reached Turn 11 and applied the brakes, they failed to engage, causing him to lose control and crash. Although the second attempt at braking was better, Marquez was still traveling at too high a speed, resulting in the loss of control.
The front brake issue dominated Marquez’s race, compelling him to push harder to reach the front of the pack. He mentioned that he had to apply the brakes two or three times on every lap at the end of the back straight. The unpredictable nature of the brake’s performance was a constant concern for Marquez, and ultimately, it led to the outcome he had feared – a crash.
Marquez cryptically referred to this experience as “normal for a new project.” While he may be new to the team, Gresini has been running Ducatis since 2021, and the 2023-spec Ducati he is currently riding has proven its worth on the track. However, it has encountered reliability issues at the start of the season, as evidenced by Fabio Di Giannantonio’s engine failure the day before.
Marquez acknowledged that they encountered a problem but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to find a solution. He believes that the team is quick and capable of addressing the issues they faced during the race, ensuring a better outcome in the future.
Although Marquez believes he may have had the pace to win, he emphasized that his tire choice was geared towards securing a podium finish. Like his fellow Ducati riders, he opted for the soft rear tire, while the race ultimately saw a medium rear tire 1-2 finish with Maverick Vinales (Aprilia) and Pedro Acosta (Tech3 Gas Gas).
Marquez explained that he initially considered choosing the medium tire but ultimately decided on the soft tire due to its higher speed compared to the Ducatis. His tire choice was made with the podium in mind rather than aiming for victory.