MotoGP Qatar GP
MotoGP star Marquez says sport support for Ukraine “not enough”
MotoGP champion Marc Marquez says the series – and world sport – can offer its support to the people of Ukraine, but admits it’s “not enough” to affect tangible change.
Lewis Duncan
Edited: Mar 5, 2022, 1:44 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ukraine has been under invasion from Russia since 24 February in a war that has been widely condemned by Western nations.
While world leaders have imposed sanctions on Russia and numerous nations have offered Ukraine support in its efforts to repel the Russian invaders, sporting bodies across the globe have also reacted to the conflict.
In motorsport, Formula 1 has terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoters, while Motorsport UK on Wednesday announced a ban on Russian competitors.
The Haas Formula 1 team elected to take Russian title sponsor Urikali’s branding off its car in last week’s Barcelona pre-season test, while the FIA has banned Russian and Belarusian-licenced drivers from competing under their nations’ flags.
The six-time MotoGP world champion posted a message of support for the people of Ukraine when the conflict began, and said on Thursday ahead of the 2022 Qatar Grand Prix that it is “difficult to understand” how this war has happened.
“Of course, it’s very difficult to understand even for me,” Marquez said when asked how MotoGP should respond to the war in Ukraine.
“I don’t know how in 2022 we can arrive in that point, and as you see in all MotoGP and all the riders, we are against the war.
“I cannot understand how in 2022 we arrived at that point, I cannot understand how we cannot stop [this war].
“I cannot understand many things. But what we can only say is try to give our support to all these people, all these families, all these kids who are suffering in this war from here.
“But it’s not enough. There are people much more important than us who must stop this.
“But this is the only thing I can say; give all the support, but that’s it.”
Ahead of Thursday’s Qatar GP media day, MotoGP staged its traditional start-of-season photo for the premier class.
The full grid was placed in front of a banner supporting the people of Ukraine saying “united for peace”.
Earlier this week the FIM announced it had cancelled all world championship events in Ukraine and Russia because of the war.
Igora Drive in Russia was a reserve circuit for MotoGP last year in case any races had to drop off the calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, it is unlikely to remain a reserve circuit amidst the current crisis.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Miller not fazed by “bullshit” questioning of his MotoGP future
Next article Bagnaia happy to see out MotoGP career with Ducati
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lewis Duncan
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
MotoGP
MotoGP
MotoGP 2025: Full rider line-up revealed
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
A year on from Marquez’s Germany MotoGP meltdown, has Honda improved?
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
MotoGP
MotoGP
German GP
What’s behind MotoGP’s right-hander chaos in Germany practice?
More from
Marc Marquez
Marc Marquez will have to perform his "juggling act" in coming MotoGP races, says Alex
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Marc Marquez will have to perform his "juggling act" in coming MotoGP races, says Alex
Pedro Acosta: "I'm going to Ducati to learn from Marc Marquez, not to beat him on same bike"
MotoGP
MotoGP
Indonesian GP
Pedro Acosta: "I'm going to Ducati to learn from Marc Marquez, not to beat him on same bike"
Latest news
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Phoenix II
1 h
Jesse Love barely holds off Sam Mayer for NASCAR O'Reilly win at Phoenix
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
4 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
5 h
NASCAR Cup Phoenix starting lineup: Blaney earns pole as Larson struggles
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
6 h
Ryan Blaney kind of faces a must-win scenario this weekend at Phoenix
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe