Marc Marquez was close to securing a podium finish at the Thai MotoGP but was forced to retire midway through the race due to unexpected damage to his bike. The Spaniard began the race in second place but eventually had to withdraw after hitting a kerb that caused a broken wheel rim and a punctured tire, ending his chances early. Despite this setback, Marquez emphasized there is no cause for alarm within Ducati.
Race Progression and Tyre Management Challenges
Starting from the front row, Marquez initially fell back to fifth place as riders like Raul Fernandez, Jorge Martin, and Pedro Acosta overtook him. He later regained ground by passing Martin and was closing in on Fernandez as the race neared its conclusion. The reigning MotoGP champion explained that the early phase of the race required careful tire conservation, which meant sacrificing pace to maintain grip for the final laps, where lap times slowed significantly among the leaders.
He told TNT Sports after the race,
“I was super-calm in the beginning,”
highlighting his focused strategy. Marquez continued,
“I knew that it will be a long race for the tyres, for my physical condition. I said ‘Okay, I want to be calm, doesn’t matter if they overtook me’.”
When ten laps remained, he shifted gears aggressively, closing in on the podium spots by pursuing riders like Fernandez and Acosta.
Impact of Marquez’s Retirement on Ducati Performance in Thailand
Marquez’s premature exit meant that Fabio Di Giannantonio was the highest-placed Ducati rider, finishing sixth behind four Aprilias and Pedro Acosta’s KTM. This marked the first occasion since the 2021 British Grand Prix that Ducati failed to secure a top-three finish in a race. However, Marquez cautioned that this outcome is not expected to be a recurring issue across the season, pointing out that the Thai circuit uses a harder, heat-resistant rear tire supplied by Michelin — a specification that will also appear at the upcoming Brazilian race.
He noted,
“Of course Ducati is working, we need to work well, we need to work hard, but no panic.”
Marquez added,
“Here is a different [tyre] casing, a different tyre. Let’s see the next races. Of course, we need to work and we cannot sleep.”
Details of the Crash and Its Unusual Circumstances
Marquez’s crash occurred at turn four, where he ran wide over the outside kerb, resulting in the rear wheel rim breaking and the tire deflating immediately. Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi confirmed the rim damage was the cause of Marquez’s retirement. Marquez himself expressed frustration, explaining how the kerb had been ridden by multiple competitors during both the race weekend and recent testing without incident.
He described the moment:
“I think that just the kerb was the reason, but it’s true that many riders – even in the test – jumped that kerb and nothing happened,”
Marquez said.
“But today just I had a small moment in turn four, on that corner, and I decided to go wide and come back.”
He added,
“I said ‘Okay, I just want to save a risky moment’. But just when I jumped the kerb the rear tyre exploded. Very strange, very unlucky I would say because I was doing a race [that was] super-calm, you saw that I was managing well. But it’s like this.”
Marquez’s Perspective on the Incident and Forward-Looking Remarks
While acknowledging the setback, Marquez emphasized there was no fault with the track or the tire manufacturer. He said,
“It’s not a problem of Michelin and it’s not a problem of the track, it’s just those double kerbs are good for some reasons but today we see something unusual.”
He also expressed relief that the incident did not cause a more severe crash, stating,
“But it happened, the thing is that it’s super-strange because even the rim was completely damaged, [it] even exploded the rim. I feel very lucky that there was not a massive high-side.”
Marquez concluded with a forward focus as he reflected on the challenges ahead, saying,
“We need to think about the next race.”
Significance of the Thai MotoGP Outcome for Ducati and the Season
The outcome in Thailand marked a rare dip in Ducati’s dominant form, especially with Marquez unable to complete the race and other Ducati riders finishing behind key rivals. Nevertheless, the team and Marquez remain optimistic, attributing the difficulties to track-specific conditions and tire choices rather than underlying performance issues. As the MotoGP season progresses to circuits like Brazil, which will also feature the harder Michelin rear tires, Ducati’s ability to adapt will be closely watched. Marquez’s measured response and emphasis on continued hard work suggest the team will approach upcoming races with renewed focus aimed at returning to podium contention.
