Dovizioso: Marquez "very aggressive" in following Quartararo
Andrea Dovizioso says Marc Marquez shadowing of MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix poleman Fabio Quartararo prior to his qualifying crash was “very aggressive”, but praised the Honda rider’s relentlessness.
Marquez followed Petronas SRT rider Quartararo on their first run in Q2 and tried to do the same in the latter stages of the session.
The Honda rider tried to go with Quartararo when he opened up his final flying lap, but suffered a violent highside at Turn 2.
With Marquez struggling for one-lap pace at Sepang all weekend, Dovizioso says the Honda rider’s tactic of trying to follow Quartararo shows he is “never satisfied” regardless of his situation.
“For someone who's won it all, to do this kind of manoeuvre on a day when he can't fight for pole, it shows that he always wants more," said Dovizioso.
“From that perspective, good on him. But the marking of Fabio was very aggressive, I wouldn't have done it. But everyone is free to do what they want."
Marquez said his crash was a result of him trying to “copy” Quartararo’s approach to the corner, and will start one place behind Dovizioso in 11th on Sunday.
Quartararo brushed off Marquez’s tactics, branding them as “part of the game”, and admits he wasn’t aware the Honda rider had crashed until he’d completed his pole lap.
He also revealed he too came close to suffering a similar fate to Marquez on his final tour.
“I did not see him before I crossed the chequered flag,” Quartararo said.
“I saw him on the pictures. I think the out-lap was way too slow for both of us, and I too nearly flew, many, many times.”
He added: “Also in the first run he was behind me. I think if he wants to follow us, it is that we are doing a good job and I think the team and me are proud of the job we’ve done this year.
“I think it is a little bit a part of the game. If one day I have the possibility to do it [follow Marquez], I will do it also. I think it is good for both riders.”
Additional reporting by Andrew van Leeuwen
Marquez admits crash result of "copying" Quartararo
Sepang MotoGP: Mir shades Yamahas in warm-up
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Motorsport.com, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock of Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. We analyse what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP's Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How praise for Honda's MotoGP bike has given way to doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's win was vital not only for his title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations
The MotoGP rookie fighting two fronts in his debut year
Darryn Binder has found himself in the unenviable position as MotoGP's most under-pressure rookie in 2022 having made the step directly from Moto3 with a reputation as an over-aggressive rider. This hasn't been an easy thing to shake at the start of the season, but he believes tangible progress is being made
How ‘Beast’ mode is putting Ducati in 2022 MotoGP title contention
Enea Bastianini’s second win of the 2022 campaign at COTA puts him back in the lead of the standings and once again showed the best Ducati package is still the 2021 bike. Those closest to Bastianini tell Motorsport.com why he’s so good on the GP21 relative to his factory counterparts.
How Espargaro helped Aprilia shed MotoGP's underdog tag
Aleix Espargaro became MotoGP's newest winner in a thrilling Argentina Grand Prix in which he also proved the merits of the Aprilia project. After six years of hard graft, both parties have reaped the rewards they have long thought they deserved. But it was several key moments in that journey that led both to that momentous Sunday at Termas de Rio Hondo.