MotoGP fans are questioning the decency of Marc Marquez’s long lap penalty after crashing into Fabio Di Giannantonio in the sprints at the 2026 United States Grand Prix.
Ducati Racing Marquez It has fallen By Giantantonio of VR46 This Saturday in the opening round of the Sprint Race at COTA. The incident took both riders out on lap 12, although both pitted again and Marquez took the checkered flag in P17 as the last rider.
D Giannantonio got the pole for the United States GP Earlier on Saturday, however, he eventually retired from the Sprint Race on lap 4 following an incident with Marquez. FIM stewards have chosen to investigate the accident after the sprint victory of Aprilia star Jorge Martin.
Martin won the COTA Sprint After dominating Ducati’s Francesco Bagna in the final lap, the Spaniard took the medium rear Michelin tire for his first win as an Aprilia rider. Pedro Acosta initially won the third but was awarded a free kick.
Marc Marquez crashes with Fabio Di Gianntonio in the COTA Sprint! Does the Ducati rider deserve a penalty?
MotoGP fans think Marc Marquez deserves a double long lap penalty for crashing into Fabio Di Giantantonio.
Not long after, Marquez was slapped with a lap penalty on Sunday. United States GP The stewards of the FIM surrendered to the accident with Di Giannantonio during the Sprint Race Acosta denied a tire pressure penalty for P3 in the COTA Sprint.He inherits P3 with Enea Bastianini.
Read more: Marc Marquez’s five biggest MotoGP crashes
Many MotoGP fans feel the stewards’ punishment. Marquez fell to D Giannantonio in the COTA Sprint It was very easy as the VR46 rider ruined the race. The Ducati rider left it too late to brake for the 12th lap and wiped out the Italian after a collision.
One MotoGP fan wrote of Marquez’s long lap penalty for the 2026 US GP at X: “Just one?! And another fan: “(It) must be a double, out-of-control dive bomb!” He said.
A MotoGP fan also said: “MM93 has done these things time and time again – (it) should have been a double long lap (penalty). The idea that Marquez deserved a double long lap penalty was widely circulated among fans, with one adding, “It should have been a double long lap, but anyway…”
Even another MotoGP fan said: “Even one (long lap penalty) is not enough (to be) close!” He pointed out that the judges’ verdict was a “miracle” for Marquez. One fan even thinks Marquez can still finish in the top five if he “doesn’t rush things”, as the penalty is “not that severe”.
Marc Marquez receives lap-long penalty for United States GP after Fabio Di Giantantonio crash in Sprint – Was it the right decision?
Marquez is a COTA specialist, and will certainly expect to still be fighting at the front – despite the US doctor carrying a long lap penalty for Sunday, he will have to serve three laps when he receives a notice in the race. The Spaniard has a record seven wins at COTA, all in the MotoGP class.
In addition, Pol Espargaro thinks Marquez’s knowledge of intermediate tires from COTA practice This Friday will pay dividends in the United States GP. This week’s forecast in Austin, Texas, shows warmer conditions during Sunday’s main event than during the Sprint.
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