Alex Marquez’ (Repsol Honda Team) monumental Turn 11 Q1 highside at the Motul Valencia Grand Prix was enough to make your stomach churn. Catapulted into the air by his RC213V behind Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) and just in front of Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), the reigning Moto2™ World Champion landed back on the asphalt with a force of 23.6G.
Motorcycle racers are gladiators. Despite the incredibly heavy impact, the double 2020 MotoGP™ podium finisher was back out on his second bike to try and grab a spot in Q2. Hospital checks thankfully cleared the Spaniard of any broken bones and he later completed the 27-lap slog in Valencia. And now, Alex Marquez’ Leather manufacturer Alpinestars have released the data from the crash.
The report shows that Aplinestars’ airbag device was deployed in just 0.2 seconds, 0.7 seconds before the first impact with the ground. In other words, Alex Marquez hanging in the air for nearly a second. Then, after the initial 23.6G impact, Alex Marquez travelled across the ground for another 2.3 seconds.
For a more detailed look, check out the graph below: