Alex Rins and Alex Marquez crash in accident-filled Spanish Grand Prix, missing out on World Championship points.
The two Repsol riders suffered bad luck at the Spanish Grand Prix, as both suffered crashes in an accident-filled race in Jerez. A race that was stopped on Lap 17, due to a scary accident for French rider Alan Techer which brought out the red flag. With two-thirds of the race completed, there would be no restart and Maverick Viñales was declared the winner.
Despite the promising work that the Repsol competitors had done over the course of the weekend, with Rins taking off from pole position, neither of the duo were able to take points from round 3 of the World Championship. Alex Marquez crashed on the opening lap, but picked himself back up to finish 23rd. Alex Rins retired on Lap 10, as the winner of the previous race lost rear grip when accelerating and fell.
After failing to take points at this round, the Repsol riders are more motivated than ever to get back on track in two weeks’ time, at the French Grand Prix on May 17th, 18th and 19th.
Alex Rins >> Audio
“It was a shame to throw the whole weekend away, because we had a good pace and throughout the weekend we had done well. I made a good start and was trying to push hard on the early laps, but Maverick overtook and seemed to have more pace ─in the last sector he was getting away from me. On the tenth lap I crashed, when I was opening the throttle. I was doing everything normally and I think I hit a bump or something. Now we have to focus on Le Mans, a track I like a lot. We will see how it goes.”
Álex Márquez >> Audio
23th at 50.055 sec.
“We knew it would be a tough race and that on the first lap things would be very risky. I made a good start and then I took things calmly, defending my position and trying to pass other riders. But out of the last corner, a rider ran across me. I tried to pass him on the inside and when he lost control he took me out. That’s racing. We at least have the experience and the information gathered when I was riding on my own, and we will try to improve for Le Mans ─which will be a new track for me.”
