Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
2024 MotoGP World Championship
2024 Thailand Grand Prix
Chang International Circuit
Buriram, Thailand
Sunday, 27 October 2024
Gresini Racing's Marc Marquez will be hoping for an incident-free Thailand Grand Prix on Sunday, October 27 after a "big insect" almost cost him victory in Australia.
The Spaniard started second on the grid at the Australian Grand Prix, but he got massive wheelspin off the line and went into turn 1 in 13th place.
However, Marquez began to carve his way through the field and closed right up on the front two of Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia with 22 laps to go.
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Image Source: Alamy Stock Photo
The 31-year-old rider eventually overtook Martin for the lead with three laps to go following a to-and-fro battle to claim his third MotoGP win of the season.
Marquez pulled 14 points clear of Ducati Lenovo Team's Enea Bastianini in third position and is 59 behind reigning two-time champion Francesco Bagnaia in the riders' standings.
Things could have been very different though, after he revealed an incident with an insect almost caused him to lose control of his bike at the start of the race, with his visor tear-off landing underneath his rear wheel.
Image copyright: Getty Images
"There was a big insect! A big one. On the film on the visor. I couldn't see, and I would've arrived at the first corner without seeing," Marquez told TNT Sports.
"Always something happens! I never pull the tear-off at the start because it is dangerous. But this time, as I put the holeshot of the bike [on], something was super-big [in front of my eyes].
"I didn't have a chance [to think]. I took it off. Unluckily it went under my wheel. I saw it, I tried to remove it but it was impossible. When I released the clutch it started to spin.
"I don't know where I was at the first corner but I overtook many riders. I thought it was impossible to catch Martin, then on lap five or six I was more calm. I was saving the tyre to have the last attack."
2024 Australian Grand Prix results:
Winner: Marc Marquez - Gresini Racing
Second Place: Jorge Martin - Prima Pramac Racing
Third Place: Francesco Bagnaia - Ducati Lenovo Team
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