Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez’ gamble to change to a softer-option front tyre for last night’s shortened Qatar MotoGP was a ‘big mistake’.
After being postponed for an hour due to a brace of rain showers, Marquez was persuaded to change to the medium front as track temperature was on its way down which would not be ideal for his favoured hard front, but it turned out to be the wrong call.
“The temperature was dropping, the humidity was coming higher - I was with the hard front tyre and I had some doubt. Then the Michelin guys say ‘You are the only one with the hard, be careful, you can crash’. Okay, I go to the medium… mistake,” said Marquez, speaking at the track.
“I remember now after the race that last year in Silverstone I did the same mistake, I go with the soft to save - and it was too soft. I think with the hard I was able to fight for the victory until the end. But maybe also was able to crash. Because the hard in the end also is no warning, less warning - maybe if I put the hard, I’m more competitive but I crash.”
“We must work on the bike. If you have an easy bike, then it’s easier to choose the correct decision. If you have a bike that you’re on the limit, then you must choose correct. If you don’t make the perfect decision, then you already lose too much time. This was the biggest mistake.”
