Pedro Acosta has described the crash involving Alex Marquez at the Catalan Grand Prix as one of the most frightening moments of his MotoGP career, admitting he was relieved the Gresini rider escaped without even more serious injuries.
Speaking on the Gypsy Tales Podcast, Acosta revealed that the incident began when his KTM suffered an unexpected technical issue during the race.
“Normally in MotoGP we don’t get technical issues,” Acosta said. “The bike is so difficult to switch off, but suddenly everything disconnected.”
The Spaniard explained that the problem was particularly confusing because the engine and dashboard remained active while the throttle stopped responding.
“In that case only the throttle switched off. The engine was on, the dashboard was on and many things were still working on the bike. Even for me, it was not easy to understand,” he said.
The malfunction ultimately triggered a dramatic chain of events that resulted in Marquez suffering a broken collarbone and a fractured vertebra after being taken to hospital.
Reflecting on the incident, Acosta admitted the emotional impact was significant.
“Horrible. It’s not easy to see these crashes from the outside, but it’s even worse knowing that you were in the middle of it,” he said.
“Sure, it wasn’t my fault, but in the end it happened because my bike switched off.”
Acosta said he felt fortunate that Marquez’s injuries were not more severe given the nature of the crash.
“I’m really grateful that he only has a broken collarbone and a crack in the vertebra. I think somebody from above was looking after him,” he added.
The incident served as another reminder of the dangers faced by MotoGP riders, even as modern technology continues to improve safety standards across the sport.
