Marc Márquez had a perfect Saturday at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Ducati rider secured pole position and, despite a crash with four laps to go in the sprint race, took the victory. Rain appeared in Jerez and the Spaniard was the first to enter the pits to change bikes, a decision that allowed him to return to the track and take the lead to claim his 17th win in this format.
The pit strategy that changed the course of the sprint 🏁
The key to Márquez's triumph was his quick reaction after the crash. While other riders hesitated, the man from Cervera entered the pits at the exact moment to swap his Ducati Desmosedici GP25 for the second bike, equipped with rain tires. The wet asphalt demanded precise riding and a specific electronic setup to manage traction control. The team worked in under ten seconds, allowing Márquez to rejoin in first place and manage the lead until the checkered flag.
When crashing is part of the race plan 💥
Márquez seems to have found a new tactic: crashing to gain time. Because if he proved anything in Jerez, it's that a spin four laps from the end is not a problem, but an excuse to change bikes and make an express pit stop. While others were biting their nails from the podium, he came out of the pit box as if he had ordered a coffee to go. Next time, to save time, he might just throw himself down on purpose on the formation lap.