Marc Marquez’s Ducati Severely Damaged in Indonesian GP Due to Incorrect Fire Extinguisher Use

Marc Marquez's Ducati severely damaged due to inappropriate fire extinguishers

"The fire extinguishers available here are not suitable for the job"

Marc Marquez reported that his Gresini Ducati motorcycle was "totally ruined" during the Indonesian Grand Prix because the track officials lacked the proper fire extinguishing equipment.

The eight-time world champion, starting from the 12th position on the grid, managed to join the fight for the top six positions during the initial stages of the race.

On the twelfth lap, while in seventh position, Marquez had to abruptly stop his race as his GP23's engine failed, leading to his motorcycle catching fire at the edge of the track.

In a conversation with press representatives, among them Crash.net, on Sunday afternoon, he mentioned that the situation with his GP23 was exacerbated because the marshals lacked the appropriate fire extinguishers required to tackle the fire.

"Indeed, there was a loud sound from the bike, and then the engine ceased to function," Marquez explained in response to questions about the malfunction.

"As soon as I noticed the white smoke, I immediately inspected the situation, only to find it disheartening that the fire extinguishers available were unsuitable, and as a result, the motorcycle suffered extensive damage, affecting every part, including the brakes."

"It's unfortunate for the squad since, for an independent team, it represents a significant expense."

"However, it's crucial that the fire extinguishers used are either the appropriate type or the most advanced models. Otherwise, the motorcycle could be ruined."

The DNF has put Marquez 78 points behind Jorge Martin, the victor of the Indonesian GP, in the current rankings, effectively dashing his chances for the championship title.

Marquez expressed sorrow over the situation but emphasized that he has already met all his goals for 2024.

"Indeed, due to that specific reason, I feel saddened today," he remarked, reflecting on the dimming prospects of his championship aspirations on Sunday.

"However, it wasn't… I've previously mentioned that my goal had already been achieved. Thus, my objective post-Misano or Aragon, as I stated during the press conference, is to focus on achieving consistent performance in the race."

"In these recent races, that's exactly what I've been focusing on. Sure, we encountered a misstep today. However, the goal is to achieve consistent performance."

"The upcoming phase involves the qualifying rounds, which I'm going to focus intensely on. My goal is to improve continuously and secure a spot consistently within the top two rows. That's my next objective."

Marquez engaged in a tough fight for the seventh position with VR46 Ducati's Fabio Di Giannantonio, which concluded with Di Giannantonio crashing out.

Marquez's race was negatively impacted, leading him to believe he had the potential to challenge Francesco Bagnaia for a podium position.

"He mentioned that they were involved in a struggle early on in the race, emphasizing that being in such a skirmish only resulted in time loss."

"However, I was quick enough to comfortably trail Pecco [Bagnaia], and I was aware that my aim was to secure somewhere between third and fifth position, which felt manageable while following Pecco."

"However, the situation escalated during our conflict with DiGia, where he somewhat overstated matters. Subsequently, he encountered a crash, a result of his decision to use a soft rear tyre and his aggressive push at the start."

"In motorsport, it's simply the nature of the competition.

"However, beyond that, the key moment came when after his crash, I regained my pace and began to speed up once more. In fact, on the lap where I erred, I was on track to set my fastest personal time. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out as planned."

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