Marc Marquez Suffers Two High-Speed Crashes at 2025 Dutch MotoGP but Still Shows Strong Pace for Ducati
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| Marc Marquez Suffers Two High-Speed Crashes at 2025 Dutch MotoGP but Still Shows Strong Pace for Ducati. |
Marc Marquez endured one of his most physically demanding days as a factory Ducati rider during the 2025 Dutch MotoGP on Friday, crashing twice at high speed but still managing to top a session and secure a spot in Q2.
First Crash in FP1: Highside at Turn 15
The drama began in the opening minutes of Free Practice 1 (FP1), when Marquez suffered a highside at Turn 15 while decelerating into the fast left-hander before the final chicane. He sustained pain in his left hand and elbow but remarkably returned to the track and set the fastest time of the session, finishing 0.313 seconds ahead of Maverick Vinales.
Second Crash in Practice: Lowside in Final Time Attack
Later in the day, during a final time attack in the Practice session, Marquez crashed again—this time suffering a lowside at Turn 7 and sliding a significant distance through the gravel. He was immediately taken to the medical center but was cleared to continue racing with no major injuries detected.
Physical Toll and Gravel Issues at Assen
Following the crashes, Marquez admitted the day had taken a toll on his body:
“Of course, physically, about the two big crashes, it’s not an easy day for my body,” he told MotoGP.com.
Despite the pain, he remained optimistic, adding:
“I’m lucky because it’s nothing important. Some things, yes, are hurting, but I don’t think it’ll be a problem in the coming days.”
Marquez also voiced his concern about the size of the gravel at the Assen circuit:
“The crash was okay, but both times when I arrived in the gravel it hits a lot—once on the elbow, once on the face, and the finger too,” he explained.
“The rocks are super big and when you arrive there at high speed, it really hits your body. I had some breathing issues after the second one because I slid face-down. My stomach and other parts were a bit damaged.”
Causes of the Crashes: Strange Feeling and Tire Reuse
According to Marquez, the first crash was due to an unusual lack of grip from the start of FP1:
“It felt super slippery right from the moment I left the box, and I wasn’t even pushing hard,” he said.
The second crash, meanwhile, was influenced by the decision to reuse the front tire from the morning crash in order to save tire allocation for Saturday:
“It was a time attack, but I used the front tire I crashed with earlier because the quantity was not enough to keep tires for tomorrow.”
He emphasized that the gravel made the crashes more painful than they would have been otherwise.
Qualified for Q2 Despite Tough Day
Even after two crashes, Marquez managed to show competitive pace and secured his place in Q2 for Saturday's qualifying session.
“Apart from those two crashes, that I know the reason about both of them, I feel okay,” he said.
“I’m happy because the fact that we are here in Assen, fast, is a very good sign for us.”
Despite suffering two heavy crashes at the 2025 Dutch MotoGP, Marc Marquez proved his resilience and speed. His ability to bounce back, top the timesheets, and qualify for Q2 demonstrates that he's still a top contender in the championship—and a serious threat for the rest of the season.
