Marco Bezzecchi says he was still in “a lot of pain” when he returned to the MotoGP paddock at the Australian Grand Prix and explained the crash that killed both him and him. Mark Marquez outside the Indonesian race.
Having made a poor start from pole and out of order, Bezzecchi became tangled up with Márquez's works Ducati at turn seven on a tough first lap of the Indonesian Grand Prix.
The incident left the world champion with a fractured right shoulder and Bezzecchi himself had to visit a local hospital for a scan, but later suffered no serious injuries.
Following Thursday morning's hearing The Aprilia driver was given a double long-lap penalty at the Australian Grand Prix. the stewards felt he was driving “irresponsibly” and “caused danger” to other riders.
In his first public appearance since the accident, Bezzecchi admitted that the accident was caused by him entering the corner too quickly and accepted the stewards' verdict.
“I didn’t want to try to overtake,” he explained. “I took the ball because I was tighter in that turn, but I didn’t expect him to slow down so much at the end.
“It was my mistake, I was behind him. Poor judgment. Mistake. I was too fast.”
“So I tried to brake, lift the bike up to brake harder, and luckily I hit the back of his bike a little bit, so he just slid.”
Bezzecchi also noticed an unusual “step” in the gravel trap, which Gresini driver Alex Marquez blamed his brother for the injury.
“The problem was outside the track, gravel, there was a step like this,” explained the British Grand Prix winner. “Otherwise the consequences for him could be much less, and also for me: the gravel destroyed my body.”
Asked whether the organizers should replace gravel with asphalt runoff at Turn 7, he replied: “I don’t know, ask them. Because when we talk, they always say that the racers ask for gravel. I have no idea. But perhaps, for sure, after this they will make some improvements.”
Bezzecchi 'couldn't breathe' after the accident
Bezzecchi initially remained upright after making contact with Marquez, but was then forced into a series of somersaults as he drove deep into the gravel trap.
Detailing his frightening experience, the 26-year-old said the impact left him briefly unable to breathe.
“I was always conscious. I remained lying down because due to the blow, especially in the back, I could not breathe,” he recalled.
“So I stayed there, trying to wait for my breathing to come back. I don't know if you've ever hit your ribs or your back, you can understand what that feeling was like. Multiplied by thousands.”
Bezzecchi added that he was “feeling good” upon arriving in Australia, but was still experiencing “a lot of pain, especially in my back due to how [severe] there was an accident.”
He added: “Because of this, I can't start with a 'bad' mood.” [penalty and fitness]. I have to give it my all, try to do the best I can on Sunday and also on Saturday and Friday.
“Hopefully my body will respond well day by day because this track is very fast and physically demanding, but the temperature will help because it’s a little cold.
This is not good for pain, but for the stability and stability of the body. I'm just trying to work as hard as I can to make the most of the weekend.”
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