Aleix Espargaro angry at stewards for not punishing ‘over limit’ Marc Marquez
Aleix Espargaro refuses to blame Marc Marquez for his aggressive overtakes on both Styrian MotoGP starts, but says stewards should be intervening
Aleix Espargaro has expressed his frustration that Marc Marquez wasn’t sanctioned for his aggressive overtakes at Turn 1 which led to contact between the pair in both Styrian MotoGP starts.
Espargaro, who qualified seventh, twice found himself on the outside of the tricky 90-degree right hander with Marquez beneath him, leading to an impact that sent him wide.
Though the second collision was arguably a racing incident because Marquez himself was being squeezed on his right by Fabio Quartararo, Espargaro - who retired with mechanical issues - the first collision was the blame of Marquez, who himself admitted he misjudged the pass.
Espargaro though didn’t point the finger of blame towards Marquez - saying instead it is something he has come to expect of the Spaniard - but was upset stewards didn’t intervene to make an example of him.
“I don’t want to blame Marc, after all this is his style, we have come to know him over the past ten years. He was over the limit, but that’s how he is. At the same time, I am disappointed by the stewards’ behaviour, I expect them to do their job and the rules are applied.
“Maybe they were watching the Olympics closing ceremony, [because] Marquez was really aggressive both in the first and in the second start. If penalties are imposed only in cases where accidents occur, what is the Stewards’ Panel for?
“I don’t understand their work, there is n o communication and no-one understands the sanctions. I consider it a lost fight.”