Last lap crash in the wet denies Marquez first 125cc GP victory

KTM Press Release

Marc Marquez, the talented 16-year-old Red Bull KTM Moto Sport’s factory rider, looked certain to snatch his first ever 125cc GP victory on Sunday in Donington Park when he crashed on a slippery surface in the final lap of a restarted 5-lap race.

In a race that was 100% drama, Marquez had started in second place on the grid and even took the lead with 16 laps to go. He then oscillated between second and third places before rain started to fall and the red flag went out to stop the race. The young Spaniard was again in third place on the grid for the restart, a mad dash of just five rain-soaked laps that promised and delivered non-stop action by the fearless 125 cc riders.

Full wets for restart
All riders were on full wet tires for the restart and Marquez settled in behind the early leader Bradley Smith, who, to the agony of his home crowd ended in the gravel in the second lap. Marquez, looking very comfortable in the deteriorating wet conditions then assumed the lead. Slowly but surely he detached himself from the pursuing pack and began to establish a promising lead. With two laps to go it looked in the bag for Marquez, who scored his first ever podium place on this circuit last season. Then his vision of standing on the top of the podium was wiped out as he made an inglorious exit with just one lap to go. He is now forced to wait a bit longer for his first ever GP win.
 
Marquez disappointed
Marquez, understandably disappointed commented: "It was a very difficult race today. I had a good feeling in the first part in the dry and I was able to get into the lead before it was stopped because of the rain. When I went out in the practice for the wet race I still felt good and I felt confident. Then when I got into the lead I just tried to keep my full concentration. At this stage I can't really say why I finally crashed and went out." Marquez did rejoin the race and finished in xxx. He will now return to Spain, take some time out to relax by the pool and prepare for the next race in August on the Brno circuit in the Czech Republic.     
 
Beaubier retires
Teammate Cameron Beaubier was not present at the restart having been forced out with technical difficulties. "I had a good start," he said "then there was a crash in the group I was in and I tried not to hit any of the other bikes. This slowed us down but after that I I felt good and I had some good fights. I was feeling very confident but then I heard something strange and the bike felt very slow. I then had to come into the pits."

Cameron, the team's young American rider said he will now go on holidays to Germany during the break before going on to Brno. "I will try to be as good as possible in Brno and I'll be going for the result I missed out today."
 
Results
1. Julian Simon, Spain, Aprilia
2. Simone Corsi, Italy, Aprilia
3. Scott Redding, Britain, Aprilia
4. Nicolas Terol, Spain, Aprilia
5. Takaaki Nakagami, Japan, Aprilia