[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https://cdn.crash.net/2026-04/gng_1307556_hires.jpg?width=1600&aspect_ratio=16:9″]
How “30 seconds” made all the difference for Alex Marquez in Jerez MotoGP Sprint
Alex Marquez says his Jerez MotoGP Sprint fell apart for the matter of “30 seconds”.
30 seconds can be a lot in racing, but in day-to-day life it’s very little; for Alex Marquez in the Jerez MotoGP Sprint it meant the difference between victory and crashing out, he thinks.
Marquez started the Sprint well, passing Johann Zarco in the early laps and closing the gap to Marc Marquez at the front in a few laps.
When the rain arrived with six laps to go, he was in the lead, and he continued to lead into the final corner on lap eight.
Behind him, Marc Marquez followed and crashed, and then remounted to pit. The Gresini Racing rider didn’t have this same kind of poorly dressed fortune and continued onto lap nine with slicks.
He was then sure he needed to pit, but he crashed at turn eight and never got the chance.
Marquez said afterwards that he was simply trying to “survive” when he crashed.
“The decision [to pit in mixed conditions], always really difficult to take it, and I was just coming back already to the box to change the bike and I think we were in a really good position to change the bike and lead again,” Alex Marquez told MotoGP.com after the Sprint in Jerez.
“But then I lose the front on turn eight just trying to survive – was too wet for the slicks. So, just that.”
He added that the timing of the rain went against him, having been purposely sat behind Marc for a few laps beforehand.
“I decided to be behind Marc for those three laps, but the guys behind were coming so then I decided to overtake him and take a little bit more risk on my way,” he said.
“I was able to push and make some gap in that moment, but just that.
“When I arrived in that turn 12 [on lap eight] it was completely dry and then suddenly on the brake point of turn 13 it was super-wet; I did a small mistake that I nearly crashed, Marc [Marquez] crashed, and just that.
“I said ‘Okay, it’s time to come back to the box’, but it was too late. I don’t have much things to say. It’s shit, it’s painful, but it will be a really good lesson for us.”
He added that making the choice to pit is usually done by feel, and on this occasion he did not feel it on lap eight, but had he been 30 seconds later to turns 11 and 12 he might have made a different decision.
“Many times it’s just waiting for the moment, feel the moment,” he explained.
“That moment I didn’t feel to go in because I said in turn 11, 12 it was small drops but it was completely [dry].
“So, just in that 11, 12, if it was raining I would go in, so just maybe arriving there 30 seconds later I would decide to go in.
“So, it’s like it is. Conditions are like this and just we need to learn.”
In this article
More News
Spanish MotoGP, Jerez – Race Results
“Strongest” Alex Marquez leads Jerez MotoGP warm-up ahead of “second chance”
Marco Bezzecchi explains disastrous Jerez MotoGP Sprint start
2026 Spanish MotoGP, Jerez – Sprint Race Results
Alex Marquez back on top at Jerez: “I won’t lie, we needed it”
Why one Ducati star’s ‘unrealistic’ Jerez MotoGP dream looks anything but
Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter
Get the latest MotoGP news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox
For more information see our Privacy Policy
Alex Marquez says his Jerez MotoGP Sprint fell apart for the matter of “30 seconds”.
30 seconds can be a lot in racing, but in day-to-day life it’s very little; for Alex Marquez in the Jerez MotoGP Sprint it meant the difference between victory and crashing out, he thinks.
Marquez started the Sprint well, passing Johann Zarco in the early laps and closing the gap to Marc Marquez at the front in a few laps.
When the rain arrived with six laps to go, he was in the lead, and he continued to lead into the final corner on lap eight.
Behind him, Marc Marquez followed and crashed, and then remounted to pit. The Gresini Racing rider didn’t have this same kind of poorly dressed fortune and continued onto lap nine with slicks.
He was then sure he needed to pit, but he crashed at turn eight and never got the chance.
Marquez said afterwards that he was simply trying to “survive” when he crashed.
“The decision [to pit in mixed conditions], always really difficult to take it, and I was just coming back already to the box to change the bike and I think we were in a really good position to change the bike and lead again,” Alex Marquez told MotoGP.com after the Sprint in Jerez.
“But then I lose the front on turn eight just trying to survive – was too wet for the slicks. So, just that.”
He added that the timing of the rain went against him, having been purposely sat behind Marc for a few laps beforehand.
“I decided to be behind Marc for those three laps, but the guys behind were coming so then I decided to overtake him and take a little bit more risk on my way,” he said.
“I was able to push and make some gap in that moment, but just that.
“When I arrived in that turn 12 [on lap eight] it was completely dry and then suddenly on the brake point of turn 13 it was super-wet; I did a small mistake that I nearly crashed, Marc [Marquez] crashed, and just that.
“I said ‘Okay, it’s time to come back to the box’, but it was too late. I don’t have much things to say. It’s shit, it’s painful, but it will be a really good lesson for us.”
He added that making the choice to pit is usually done by feel, and on this occasion he did not feel it on lap eight, but had he been 30 seconds later to turns 11 and 12 he might have made a different decision.
“Many times it’s just waiting for the moment, feel the moment,” he explained.
“That moment I didn’t feel to go in because I said in turn 11, 12 it was small drops but it was completely [dry].
“So, just in that 11, 12, if it was raining I would go in, so just maybe arriving there 30 seconds later I would decide to go in.
“So, it’s like it is. Conditions are like this and just we need to learn.”
30 seconds can be a lot in racing, but in day-to-day life it’s very little; for Alex Marquez in the Jerez MotoGP Sprint it meant the difference between victory and crashing out, he thinks.
Marquez started the Sprint well, passing Johann Zarco in the early laps and closing the gap to Marc Marquez at the front in a few laps.
When the rain arrived with six laps to go, he was in the lead, and he continued to lead into the final corner on lap eight.
Behind him, Marc Marquez followed and crashed, and then remounted to pit. The Gresini Racing rider didn’t have this same kind of poorly dressed fortune and continued onto lap nine with slicks.
He was then sure he needed to pit, but he crashed at turn eight and never got the chance.
Marquez said afterwards that he was simply trying to “survive” when he crashed.
“The decision [to pit in mixed conditions], always really difficult to take it, and I was just coming back already to the box to change the bike and I think we were in a really good position to change the bike and lead again,” Alex Marquez told MotoGP.com after the Sprint in Jerez.
“But then I lose the front on turn eight just trying to survive – was too wet for the slicks. So, just that.”
He added that the timing of the rain went against him, having been purposely sat behind Marc for a few laps beforehand.
“I decided to be behind Marc for those three laps, but the guys behind were coming so then I decided to overtake him and take a little bit more risk on my way,” he said.
“I was able to push and make some gap in that moment, but just that.
“When I arrived in that turn 12 [on lap eight] it was completely dry and then suddenly on the brake point of turn 13 it was super-wet; I did a small mistake that I nearly crashed, Marc [Marquez] crashed, and just that.
“I said ‘Okay, it’s time to come back to the box’, but it was too late. I don’t have much things to say. It’s shit, it’s painful, but it will be a really good lesson for us.”
He added that making the choice to pit is usually done by feel, and on this occasion he did not feel it on lap eight, but had he been 30 seconds later to turns 11 and 12 he might have made a different decision.
“Many times it’s just waiting for the moment, feel the moment,” he explained.
“That moment I didn’t feel to go in because I said in turn 11, 12 it was small drops but it was completely [dry].
“So, just in that 11, 12, if it was raining I would go in, so just maybe arriving there 30 seconds later I would decide to go in.
“So, it’s like it is. Conditions are like this and just we need to learn.”
[analyse_source url=”http://crash.net/motogp/news/1093524/1/how-30-seconds-made-all-difference-alex-marquez-jerez-motogp-sprint”]