VR46 ‘hopes’ Marc Marquez gets penalty for US MotoGP Sprint clash

After a crash with Fabio Di Giannantonio in the US MotoGP Sprint, Pablo Nieto says he ‘hopes’ Marc Marquez receives a penalty.

Marquez started sixth on the grid but was fourth by the end of the first sector, behind Di Giannantonio who started from pole.

Braking into turn 12, Marquez tried to pass down the inside, but he lost the front just past the apex and took Di Giannantonio down with him.

Marquez rejoined and finished a lap down, while Di Giannantonio rejoined but eventually retired.

VR46 Racing Team manager Pablo Nieto spoke afterwards to the world feed broadcast and said he “did not agree” with Marquez’s move on his rider, adding that it’s a move “you cannot make”.

“In the end, when you are missing one race like this, because of these kind of overtakes, we are not so agree [about] this movement,” said Nieto, speaking to the MotoGP world feed broadcast shortly after the incident.

“But we will see what happens with Race Direction because I think it’s important to say that this kind of movement, you cannot make it.”

Asked subsequently if he thinks the move from Marquez is deserving of a penalty, Nieto responded: “I hope so.”

Marquez’s crash marks his second non-finish of the season after he retired from the opening grand prix of the season in Thailand due to wheel rim damage after hitting a kerb.

It’s also the second controversial Sprint incident for the reigning MotoGP champion after receiving a penalty for the pass he made on the penultimate lap of the Thai Sprint on Pedro Acosta.

In Brazil, Marquez won the Sprint, but finished fourth in the grand prix, meaning tomorrow he will go in search of his first Sunday podium of the season.