Marc Marquez demands respect from rivals following his razor-thin victory at the Dutch MotoGP held at Assen. The factory Ducati rider extended his championship lead to 68 points after narrowly defeating Marco Bezzecchi by 0.635 seconds, pushing back criticisms claiming his competitors are not challenging him aggressively enough.
Marquez Fires Back at Criticism Over Rivals’ Racing Style
In recent weeks, some critics have suggested Marquez’s rivals, including his younger brother Alex Marquez, second in the standings, are adopting a less aggressive approach when racing him. After his latest win at Assen, Marquez confronted those allegations directly, emphasizing the need for respect toward all riders on the grid.
Reflecting on the challenge posed by Marco Bezzecchi during the Dutch GP, Marquez said it was a tough contest on a tight race track. He explained that when riders are matched evenly, attacking the lead bike becomes nearly impossible in narrow sections of the course. Marquez defended his brother and Bezzecchi equally, asserting that their strategies and line choices made it difficult to overtake.
“And today Marco, why didn’t he attack me? In the end, if the front rider is in a very equal level, in this race track that is super narrow, you cannot attack the front riders,”
Marquez stated. He credited his strong braking points and skillful defense for securing valuable championship points.
“But one more time: respect the MotoGP riders because all of them defend their colours, defend their teams and all the grid wants to win, but the problem is only one can win.”
—Marc Marquez, MotoGP Rider
Speaking to TNT Sports, Marquez admitted his frustration over the comments targeting his brother and other riders.
[On Saturday] I was angry. People must respect the other riders.
—Marc Marquez, MotoGP Rider
Crash in Practice Leads to Use of Updated Ducati Aerodynamics
During Friday’s practice sessions, Marc Marquez crashed his original Ducati bike, prompting him to switch to the updated aerodynamic fairing for the Dutch Grand Prix race. Despite this change, Marquez maintained that his bike set-up remained consistent with what he used at Mugello, highlighting his adaptability as a key strength.
He elaborated that apart from the aero modification, no other significant adjustments were made to his base set-up from Thailand through Assen. Marquez is confident in his ability to quickly adapt to new bike conditions, which factored into his decision to keep the new aero for the race.
Looking ahead, he indicated the team plans to revert to the standard aerodynamic package at Sachsenring to evaluate performance differences, as the benefits of the new aero remain uncertain.
“But apart from that, my base set-up from Thailand to here didn’t change a lot. We did a step in Mugello and we kept the same step here.”
—Marc Marquez, MotoGP Rider
Impact of Marquez’s Victory and What Lies Ahead
Marc Marquez’s win at the Dutch GP not only widened his lead in the MotoGP championship but also sparked a wider conversation about respect and competition among riders. His insistence on acknowledging the efforts and strategies of all competitors underscores the intensity and complexity of racing at the highest level.
As the season progresses toward upcoming rounds like Sachsenring, Marquez’s form and mental resilience will be vital. His ability to defend his position under pressure while adapting to technical challenges with his Ducati appears likely to keep him in strong contention for the title.
The championship battle, especially against his brother Alex and rivals like Marco Bezzecchi, promises to remain closely fought, with respect among riders serving as a central theme for the MotoGP paddock moving forward.
