Marc Marquez' crash at Sepang has had massive consequences. After missing the Sepang race with double vision from the crash, Marquez' deficit grew to 23 points. The symptoms have not disappeared entirely yet, and so Marquez has been forced to withdraw from the final round of the Moto2 championship at Valencia, handing Stefan Bradl the 2011 title.
There is a very slim chance that Marquez' vision could clear up in the next couple of days, but his hopes of clinching the Moto2 title in his rookie year have dwindled to zero. The mathematics of the situation are such that if Marquez does not take to the track on Sunday, Bradl will automatically be crowned champion. A completely final decision has yet to be taken, with the final cutoff date for the Spaniard qualifying practice on Saturday, but he would have to make a remarkable recovery and be passed fit to qualify. Even if he did manage to race, Marquez would have to win the race, with Bradl finishing no better than 14th.
The anger in the Repsol-backed Catalunya Caixa team with the marshals at Sepang is palpable. Their failure to warn the riders of water seeping onto the track saw Marquez suffer a huge highside, banging his head and suffering bruising to the face. This caused swelling inside his eye socket, and that is the probable cause of Marquez' double vision. The crash took place on the first lap out of the pits of FP1, and meant that Marquez saw his deficit to Bradl rise from 3 points to 23 points, and his chances of the title disappear.
Despite being forced to give up on the title, Marquez has clinched the Rookie of the Year crown in the Moto2 class.
Below is the press release from the Repsol team:
Valencia will put an end to the season with Marc Márquez's absence
The Repsol rider is not yet fully recovered and his participation is ruled out unless there is a last-minute improvement. Cheste holds this weekend the last season of the year with Marco Simoncelli in everyone's mind.
After the medical checks he underwent today at the USP Institut Universitari Dexeus, rider Repsol Marc Márquez was force to accept that this weekend he will not be able to fight for the Moto2 title in Valencia. The sight of the young rider from Cervera has been improving since he returned from Malaysia but he is not fully recovered yet, so his participation in the Grand Prix of Comunitat Valenciana has been ruled out. Nevertheless, on Thursday afternoon the Repsol rider will go to the Ricardo Tormo circuit because, as the doctors said, there is a thin chance that he might recover the sight suddenly and he is willing to take any opportunity, as thin as it might be, to take part in the last round of the 2011 calendar.
Márquez wanted to be at the Ricardo Tormo to have the chance to fight for the Moto2 World Championship with Germany's Stefan Bradl. But although he is progressively improving he will not be completely recovered for Valencia. Under those conditions he must not take any risks, so it will be a strange weekend for Márquez. Despite his disappointment, truth is that since his crash due to the Malaysian marshal's incompetence, the final battle for the title would not be easy for Márquez. After missing the Malaysian race and after Bradl recovering 20 points, Marc's only options were to win the race and wait for the German to finish fourteenth or worse.
Despite Márquez will finally not be able to try a new feat, the already Rookie of the Year has had an excellent season in his first year in the always difficult Moto2 category, where he has already secured the runner-up position in the World Championship due to his good results.
Márquez wanted to be at the Ricardo Tormo to have the chance to fight for the Moto2 World Championship with Germany's Stefan Bradl. But although he is progressively improving he will not be completely recovered for Valencia. Under those conditions he must not take any risks, so it will be a strange weekend for Márquez. Despite his disappointment, truth is that since his crash due to the Malaysian marshal's incompetence, the final battle for the title would not be easy for Márquez. After missing the Malaysian race and after Bradl recovering 20 points, Marc's only options were to win the race and wait for the German to finish fourteenth or worse.
Despite Márquez will finally not be able to try a new feat, the already Rookie of the Year has had an excellent season in his first year in the always difficult Moto2 category, where he has already secured the runner-up position in the World Championship due to his good results.
Comments
Double Vision
Mr. Emmett,
I think I am having a bit of double vision or are there two pairs of paragrah's the same here?
Wilairot
'since his crash due to the Malaysian marshal's incompetence'
Funny, I haven't seen any press releases from Wilairot's sponsors stating that he would be missing races 'since his crash due to Marquez's incompetence'.
I would agree that the Malaysian marshal's were not the best though, it is just ironic who the stone throwers are in this case. I hope both riders progress well with their recoveries.
Was it definitely rain...
or was it a leak of some sort as I heard rumours of that too. If it was a leak then would it be even possible for the marshalls to see that and be waving flags? Just asking the question.
Although either way, I certainly do agree with Stykman
Agreed
Catalunya repsol are in rage with Malaysian marshal's, well it's time for some reflections and think that is better make a formal apologize with wilairot team, being rivals in track is one thing but both wilairot and marquez are work companions, fortunately that crash that marquez caused on wilairot dont havent consequences for both riders, am think than marquez has learned the lesson.
And now with this, well the guy is young, learn fast and will grow up rapidly, he will stay another year in Moto2 and have another tryout for take Moto2 championship because at now all the posibilities are indicating than bradl will have it at this moment, he just have to wait for a formal ceremony in spain.
Maybe if he recovers quickly he will race and see a battle like in phillip island, but the chances are low.
Better luck for next time marquez.
Championships schmancionships
Cool heads must prevail. I can completely understand the Repsol/Caixa team's frustration at losing a chance to snatch a championship. I am relieved though that they aren't letting Maq out there even with slight blur in one eye. These riders are highly motivated and surely ride with all sorts of injuries but after Sepang I don't want to see a vision impaired desperate rider out on track chasing a title. Sucks to see (pun not intended) the end of the championship go down like this. Would have been great to see Maq and Bradl fight these last two races.
I think I agree with what
I think I agree with what others have expressed about a certain dissatisfaction with the "apology" (if any??) that the Repsol/Caixa Moto2 have given to Wilairot's team. That said, in the interest of the sport at large, I really hope that Marquez' eye issue resolves at some point and does not become a permanent injury. Are there any doubts that he can physically recover, and has not screwed up his eye in some major way? I would think that with the medical resources at the team's disposal, the swelling should have gone down by now (the human eye typically heals quickly, right?).
It would be a major blow to the show for Marquez to not be in full force next year in whatever class he's in, because like him or not, he is a fantastic rider to watch. I consider the 2011 Moto2 title to belong to Bradl now, and I really hope that Marquez makes a recovery to qualify & race, if only for the comparatively paltry reason of Bradl taking the championship on a win in a race, and not by default of the runner-up not showing up on the grid for whatever reason. Of course, priority should always be on rider health/safety so this situation should only occur if Marquez is 100% capable, sadly it doesn't look like it will be. It's a pity, because Bradl rode such strategic, wise races and deserves a "Win" to take the title.