Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) had a dramatic start to the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia. Bezzecchi, who started from pole, didn’t get the best jump and Marc Marquez, who started on the third row, moved forward – leaving the duo close together on track.

As Bezzecchi went for a move up the inside, the #72 tagged the back of the #93 Ducati. Marquez slid off at speed and Bezzecchi headed straight on into the gravel, then losing control and crashing too.

The aftermath saw both up and walking away – and Bezzecchi clearly apologizing trackside – but the duo then both headed to the Medical Centre for checks. 

Marquez spoke very briefly to MotoGP ahead of his departure, but Bezzecchi missed his debriefs as he headed to local hospital for a full examination. Back at the track, Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, and Davide Tardozzi, Team Manager of the Ducati Lenovo Team, both weighed in:

The investigation from the FIM MotoGP Stewards remains open and will be taken back up after hearings at a future GP – but in the meantime, Marquez posted a message on social media for those lambasting the Aprilia rider for the incident. The rest, we'll need to wait and see.

Marquez later flew back to Madrid, where further medical checks confirmed that he suffered a fracture at the base of the coracoid and a ligament injury to his right shoulder. On Monday, Ducati announced that the newly crowned World Champion will miss the Australian GP and Malaysian GP.