During the Malaysian MotoGP, footage has surfaced showing a playful moment where Marc Marquez joked with his Ducati team about the “aggressive” riding style of Ai Ogura during the Sprint race at Sepang. Marquez claimed second place after several intense duels with Ogura, including a close overtake Marquez executed at turn five that effectively ended their battle.
The Ducati factory team’s YouTube series, Inside Ducati, provided a glimpse into Marquez’s reaction after the Sprint, where he humorously suggested that Aprilia must have had a strategy meeting about Ogura’s aggressive approach. Marquez admitted he made a mistake at the start, hitting the rev limiter when shifting from second to third gear, which allowed Ogura to challenge him into the first corner.
He reflected, “I made an error at the start, hitting the limiter when changing up, probably from second to third, which cost me. Despite a wheelie, the power delivery was fine, but when I got to the first braking zone, Ogura was very aggressive.”
Earlier in qualifying, Marquez also had a scare with three slides at turns 13 and 14, which he explained as a gear selection mishap. He told his crew chief Marco Rigamonti, “I went from third gear, changed direction, then accidentally shifted to fourth and then first.” Later in the pits, Marquez joked about the confusion, saying, “Normally you go third, then second; instead, I ended up going fourth, first, and second in the middle of the corner—I had no idea where I was!”
Despite these challenges, Marquez went on to claim victory on Sunday, marking his first win at Sepang since 2019 and his third premier-class victory there overall. This win positions him as a strong contender for the MotoGP championship heading into the Qatar race weekend.
Fan Take: Marquez’s ability to battle fiercely and laugh off mistakes shows why he remains one of MotoGP’s most exciting riders. His resilience and competitive edge not only make for thrilling races but also keep fans eagerly anticipating what’s next in the title fight.
Source: www.crash.net
