MARQUEZ SKIPS MOTEGI PARADE LAP AND GETS A REPRIMAND

Marc Marquez left the Japanese Grand Prix with maximum points and a telling-off from race organisers. The Ducati rider won both the Sprint and the main race at Motegi, beating Jorge Martin and moving to within two points of his title rival ahead of the next round in Indonesia.

The reprimand came before the race, when MotoGP staged a parade lap with riders driving go-karts around the circuit. Marquez’s kart took part, but he did not: he sent a stand-in instead because he needed ice on his arm. The event followed a similar promotional activity in Thailand, where riders toured the track in tuk-tuks, as MotoGP seeks to broaden its appeal and engagement.

Marquez said he understood the parade was part of the show, but felt his championship campaign had to come first. “There’s a fine line here; obviously I understand it’s part of the show, but we’re fighting for the championship – we’re not here to mess about and do go-kart races just for the sake of it,” he said.

He explained that he had asked for ice during warm-up, and that someone suggested sending a substitute for the lap. “I’ve been given a telling-off, but at this stage you have to be selfish and perform at your best when it counts, which is in the races,” Marquez said. Motorsport.com’s Spanish edition reported that he received a “proper telling-off”.

His attention now turns to Mandalika, where his record offers little reassurance: Marquez has never finished a Grand Prix in Indonesia.