Marquez feared last-corner crash due to stuck brake guard
MotoGP championship leader Marc Marquez says he was briefly expecting to crash at the final corner of the Austrian Grand Prix, after getting his right brake lever guard caught on Andrea Dovizioso’s bike.

Dovizioso had lunged down the inside of Marquez at the final corner, and the Honda man looked to cut across Dovizioso’s line to get a better exit onto the start-finish straight – which would’ve emulated the Italian’s race-winning manoeuvre at the same corner two years prior.
Read Also:
However, minor contact between the two bikes on this occasion led to Marquez being momentarily dragged wide to the outside along with Dovizioso, which allowed the Ducati rider to preserve his advantage and go on to win by two tenths.
Marquez said he had anticipated Dovizioso’s Turn 10 lunge, but chose not to take an overly defensive line into the downhill right-hander so as not to lose out on the run to the chequered flag.
“I say ‘if I go in the last corner too fast, he will overtake me before the finish line’ because I didn’t have the drive, I needed to keep the corner speed and then I tried to choose the middle [line]," Marquez explained.
“When he overtook me, I was thinking that I was able to stop the bike and come back, like he did two years ago - but then my protection of the front lever was touched [caught] on his leather or some part of his bike.
“And then I was going wide with him, because my bike was going with his bike. I was thinking that I will crash, but then fortunately that piece broke, and then I was able to stop the bike and I didn't crash.
“But, yeah, was that small contact, that piece, the protection of the front brake, was attached to somewhere of his bike.”
Marquez made it clear he had no issues with the Italian’s overtake or the minor collision, calling it “part of racing and something that I like”.
The championship leader, who rued a “mistake” in choosing the medium-compound rear tyre, said he had noticed Dovizioso release the throttle on the straight so as not to overtake him at points during the race.
“Dovi did a great race,” Marquez said. “I already check; the last six-seven laps he was playing with me. He closed gas on the straight sometimes.
“He had much better grip in the exit of the corners. I was stronger on the braking point, but on the braking point is where you take a lot of risk and I say ‘ok, I will try until our limits, I will not do anything crazy’.
“For that reason I started the last lap in front, to try to defend, because I was not able to attack. But even like this I had a small chance to win the race.
“I tried, it was not possible and the most important is that we struggle but we finish together with Dovi in the final lap. So that’s more important for the championship.”
Asked whether he was indeed “playing” with Marquez, Dovizioso said: “I played not with [overall] speed, because if I had chance to finish alone, I would.
“I played in the straight twice, because if you overtake riders and you are in front, the rider behind – especially Marc – is able to brake later, he is able to be [on the] inside and control the brake. If I overtake a rider and stay there, I control the brake.”

Previous article
Dovizioso "didn’t prepare" for last-turn lunge on Marquez
Next article
Zarco to leave KTM after single MotoGP season

About this article
Series | MotoGP |
Event | Austrian GP |
Sub-event | Race |
Drivers | Andrea Dovizioso , Marc Marquez |
Teams | Ducati Team |
Author | Valentin Khorounzhiy |
Marquez feared last-corner crash due to stuck brake guard
Trending
Repsol Honda Team - Pol Espargaró Q&A
Repsol Honda Team - Marc Marquez Q&A
Why Alex Marquez doesn't care about 'shutting up' MotoGP critics
Alex Marquez's form was one of MotoGP 2020's biggest surprises and, by firmly stepping out of his six-time world champion brother Marc's shadow, he proved a few people wrong. Not that he cares about this, as he tells Lewis Duncan
How Yamaha's new MotoGP era can unchain Vinales
After the electrifying start to his Yamaha MotoGP career in 2017, Maverick Vinales has struggled for consistency. Many anticipate that the arrival of Fabio Quartararo could spell disaster, but the departure of Valentino Rossi could be just the impetus he needs.
Does KTM really need 'super engine' for MotoGP title challenge?
Fears from rival MotoGP manufacturers that KTM would build a 'super engine' for 2021 have ultimately come to nothing with the revealation that the RC16 hasn't been radically changed over the winter. But does it really need that to win the title?
How Ducati's latest Aussie union can return it to MotoGP glory
Australians on Ducatis is an iconic partnership, the marque's last one yielding its sole MotoGP crown to date. But its latest Aussie union with the often underestimated Jack Miller can end this drought.
The "balls out" battle between MotoGP's true greats
Senna vs Prost is regularly cited as motorsport's greatest rivalry. But it can easily be argued Rainey vs Schwantz can stake that claim. That rivalry was in full swing during the 1991 500cc season, remembered fondly by both stars 30 years on...
The "warrior" MotoGP rookie KTM was right to back
The 2020 MotoGP campaign featured a standout pair of rookies, but one flew under the radar as he adjusted to a shock step-up armed with very little racing experience. However as his veteran team boss explains, the faith shown in him was not misplaced
Why Suzuki's Brivio replacement must come from within
With its charismatic leader Davide Brivio leaving for Formula 1, the Suzuki MotoGP squad he turned into a world championship-winning force in 2020 has a major recruitment headache that it needs to resolve carefully.
Why Alpine's latest signing could be its best hope of F1 glory
The return of Fernando Alonso to the renamed Alpine team is a sure sign of the team's ambition. But its latest appointment from MotoGP could be an even bigger coup as it seeks to end a barren run stretching back to Alonso's 2006 world title