Marquez absence not reason for “strange” season

Reigning world champion Marquez has been out of action since breaking his right arm at the Spanish Grand Prix, and now won’t return until November’s European GP at the earliest.

In his absence, eight different riders have won from the 10 races run so far, while just 39 points covers the top eighth in the championship – with the spread amongst the top four of Joan Mir, Quartararo, Maverick Vinales and Andrea Dovizioso just 15.

In an interview with Motorsport.com, double world champion Casey Stoner said Marquez being sidelined has plunged the championship into “chaos” as it has lost its “leader”.

Quartararo admits Marquez is the “reference” in MotoGP, but feels now there are “a lot of references” and points out that “it’s not that we are going way too slow compared to last year”.

“For me, when Marc is in the championship, you can see that he’s a powerful rider in the championship,” Quartararo said ahead of the Teruel GP. “He’s the reference. But I think right now there are a lot of references.

“It’s not that we are going way too slow compared to last year. You can see a lot of winners in different conditions. I think that already the guys that are here are going really well, really fast.

“Also, the tyre change is more equal for everybody. Let’s say with the old tyre I think some bikes have some positives, some bikes have some negatives and I think that the tyre of this year is really constant for everybody.

“That also means that it is a strange championship. But for me it’s not because Marc is not there that it is a strange championship.”

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The 2020 construction Michelin rear tyre - which is designed to give greater grip and more consistent wear - has proven to be a struggle for some riders to adapt their machines and riding styles to, most notably those on Ducatis.

Dovizioso has been most affected by this change and says it’s “easy to understand” the influence this has had this season.

“For me it’s very clear,” the Ducati rider said. “If everybody is inconsistent, the reason is not because there isn’t a reference.

“If you are not consistent, it’s because there is something that makes you inconsistent. And everybody did that. So, the only change is the rear tyre. It’s so easy to understand.”