Marco Melandri dismissed blame on Marc Márquez for a controversial first-turn collision with Marco Bezzecchi during the Qatar Grand Prix sprint race.
The incident at Lusail International Circuit sparked intense debate across the paddock. Speaking on the Chiacchiere da Box podcast, the former 250cc world champion defended the Spanish rider’s trajectory, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
“Solo chi non è mai andato in moto in pista può dare la colpa a Marquez, perché lui non c’entrava niente,” Melandri told the podcast.
Melandri argued that Márquez maintained his normal racing line from the preceding corner. The Italian former rider explained that Bezzecchi caught misfortune when Márquez was already lifting his machine, which provided extra rear grip and caused Bezzecchi’s front wheel to lift upon contact.
He also said that Bezzecchi could have attempted his move in a safer location due to being faster, while adding that Jorge Martín likely wanted to speak up regarding Márquez’s visibility before stopping himself upon remembering the recording equipment.
“È stato un episodio di gara,” Melandri said, describing the coming-together as a standard racing incident.
The incident drew direct comparisons from Melandri to the 2015 Argentine Grand Prix clash between Márquez and Valentino Rossi. He questioned why fault was assigned to Márquez in South America when Rossi altered his trajectory, yet critics point fingers at the Spaniard once again for the Lusail contact.
He further recalled his own racing career, pointing to a 2019 Superbike incident at Jerez where he attacked Chaz Davies, resulting in a crash for both riders and a penalty solely for himself.
Beyond the asphalt, Melandri aimed sharp remarks at Aprilia Racing’s Massimo Rivola. Television cameras captured Rivola applauding sarcastically toward race stewards immediately following the crash involving Bezzecchi, an Aprilia rider.
“Mi è sembrata una reazione fuori luogo, un caposquadra deve mantenere un certo contegno,” Melandri said of the executive’s courtside demeanor, as published by La Gazzetta dello Sport. He added that Rivola named Márquez 22 times across a seven-minute television appearance.
Rivola nonetheless offered public congratulations to Márquez for effectively sealing the world championship crown during the Qatar weekend.
Melandri also criticized Fabio Di Giannantonio for direct remarks directed at Márquez immediately following the sprint event. He further widened his assessment to the entire weekend at Lusail, describing a depleted starting grid missing Francesco Bagnaia, Álex Márquez, and the Yamaha contingent, while calling the combination of three qualifying sessions and numerous sprint races a grueling ordeal that leaves too many riders injured.
Addressing a frightening collision between Fermin Aldeguer and Pedro Acosta, Melandri attributed the crash to windy desert conditions that blow sand outside the clean racing line. He explained that Acosta braked centrally to defend his position while Aldeguer dived to the inside through the dirty asphalt, preventing the motorcycle from stopping effectively on the sand and launching Acosta into a severe flight.
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