Severe Crash at Portimao: Marquez Brothers’ Shocking Account Revealed
In a shocking turn of events, Marc Marquez and Alex Marquez have come forward with their recollections of the terrifying crash involving MotoGP rider Franco Morbidelli at Portimao. Their accounts reveal that the incident was far more severe than initially reported.
Morbidelli, along with the Marquez brothers, was present at the undulating Portuguese venue for road bike training ahead of the upcoming pre-season testing at Sepang. The Ducati Panigale V4S rider suffered a crash, which led to his immediate transfer to the medical center and later to a local hospital for further examination, including CT scans.
Although Morbidelli was released after a two-day stay, his participation in the Sepang test remains uncertain. He is yet to arrive at the Malaysian circuit where full-grid testing is set to commence on Tuesday.
The Marquez brothers, who now ride for Gresini and are Morbidelli’s teammates within the Ducati camp, were the first to reach the crash site. During a recent Gresini press conference in Jakarta, Marc provided a detailed description of the situation, while Alex recalled the incident today at Sepang. Both accounts paint a concerning picture.
“We were in Turn 5, we saw the red flag panels,” Alex revealed. “Then we arrived between 8 and 9 so in the change of elevation, so he crashed in that point. We know that point is dangerous. If you crash there, you get injured, normally.”
Turn 8, a sharp and slow right-hander leading to a hill on exit, followed by a steep decline, provides a clear understanding of the impact Morbidelli experienced.
Marc added, “We saw that Franco was completely unconscious on the run-off area, and he was a little bit in a strange position, with his head [looking] up.”
Reacting swiftly, the Marquez brothers abandoned their bikes and rushed to Morbidelli’s aid. They placed him in the recovery position to ensure proper breathing.
“We put him in a lateral way, just to breathe, and he started to breathe, but the ambulance took like two minutes to come,” Alex recalled. “It was a long two minutes.”
The exact nature of Morbidelli’s condition, which is preventing him from participating in the test, remains unknown. However, his loss of consciousness is a clear indication of a severe concussion-like symptom.
Furthermore, Spanish Motorsport.com reported the discovery of a small blood clot in Morbidelli’s head during hospital examinations.
Morbidelli, a protege of Valentino Rossi, expressed his gratitude to Marc Marquez, his mentor’s long-time rival, on social media. Despite being opponents on the track, the Marquez brothers demonstrated their professional camaraderie in this difficult situation.
“In the end, we are opponents but at the same time we are mates of profession,” Marc stated. “We are opponents but at the same time mates and we want the best for all the opponents.”
Alex added, “It’s a human reaction. I mean, the people say like it’s special – but no, it’s a human reaction, I think everybody would react in that way.”
The racing community anxiously awaits further updates on Morbidelli’s condition and hopes for his swift recovery.
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Honda’s new MotoGP machine has been dubbed “well-born,” but it still has a challenging road ahead to prevent itself from becoming the slowest bike in the competition. This revelation comes after MotoGP’s first major test of 2024, the three-day Sepang shakedown, where promising rookie Pedro Acosta and all the Honda and Yamaha riders showcased their skills.
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ARGENTINE GRAND PRIX CANCELED FOR 2024
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FRANCO MORBIDELLI’S PRE-SEASON TESTING IN JEOPARDY
Franco Morbidelli, the new Pramac Ducati MotoGP signing, may face setbacks in his pre-season testing for 2024. A fall at the Portimao circuit has resulted in the Brazilian-Italian rider being hospitalized for observation. This unfortunate incident could potentially impact Morbidelli’s preparations for the upcoming season.
MOTOGP LEARNS FROM TWO-WHEELED ACTION IN LOS ANGELES
While MotoGP’s attention was primarily focused on the unveiling of new team Trackhouse’s stars-and-stripes-themed Aprilia bikes, there was another exciting event taking place in Los Angeles. This additional event provides valuable lessons that MotoGP can incorporate into its own operations. It is a must-watch for both die-hard fans and newcomers to the sport.
