Marc and Alex Marquez Crashed at Assen: Reactions Are Mixed
Both Marc Marquez and his brother Alex, who have both been dealing with crashes and injuries in recent weeks, got off to a rocky start to the Assen weekend. Both Catalan brothers ended up on the ground again during the day, though this time without any serious consequences. Their comments, therefore, reflect a sense of relief, though accompanied by the awareness of how unwise it would be to take excessive risks ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.
“My front end locked up—it can happen in motorcycle racing,” explained Marc Marquez. “But right now, given my physical condition, Assen is one of the most dangerous tracks. Here, if you crash, you’re likely to do so at very high speed. I have to race in risk-reduction mode; I think I’ll finish the Dutch Grand Prix between sixth and seventh place. I expect a one-two finish from Marco Bezzecchi, and in addition to the four Aprilias, there will also be Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio, and Acosta, who are all riding very strongly.”
Alex Marquez’s comments were less grim, perhaps due to his greater fear—compared to his brother’s—given that he had just returned to MotoGP action after the terrifying crash at Montmelò. And, consequently, his greater relief at having narrowly escaped danger. “I have a few scrapes, but luckily I’m okay. My collarbone is fine; I’ll have a better idea of how I’m doing tomorrow morning. It was my mistake—I crashed while trying to push as hard as I could. But aside from that, it was a positive day,” said the Team Gresini rider.
Despite their physical concerns, both Marquez brothers managed to qualify directly for Q2 in Saturday’s qualifying session. In the pre-qualifying session for the Dutch Grand Prix, Marc finished sixth while Alex snagged the tenth and final spot for direct access to the decisive phase of qualifying—but not before suffering a nasty crash at the end of the session that forced him to visit the medical center for an examination. Dominating the session was World Championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, who clocked a time of 1’31.123, finishing ahead of his teammates Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura, as well as KTM rider Pedro Acosta.
Marc Marquez’s cautious approach at Assen comes as no surprise, given the delicate stage of his season. The rider from Cervera had already admitted on the eve of the Dutch weekend that he has a complicated relationship with this track: “I hope Assen is the last circuit where I have to make do a bit,” he had said. “Even when I’m at my best, it’s a track that gives me trouble.” Words that carry even greater weight in light of today’s crashes.
Yet number 93 arrived at Assen on a roll after back-to-back wins in Hungary and the Czech Republic, where he overtook Pecco Bagnaia with six laps to go to claim the top step of the podium in Brno. These results have propelled him back into the title race with a vengeance, bringing him within 40 points of the lead held by Bezzecchi. This comeback is made even more significant by the fact that the World Championship leader did not take part in the Brno race due to a disqualification he received for an altercation with a marshal during the Sprint Race.
Adding to the sporting highlights of the Dutch weekend is the news of Marc Marquez’s contract renewal with Ducati for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, which was made official in recent days. “I’m really happy to have renewed with Ducati for another two years,” said the nine-time world champion. “I decided to take this step because I feel ready: my condition is improving day by day, and my goal is to continue on this path in 2027 and 2028 as well.” The Catalan rider now wants to prove this consistency on the track, starting with the challenging race at Assen.
