MotoGP | Mir defines Marquez's penalty as “too light”.

The Sprint in Jerez was more of an elimination race than a fight for victory. The winner was Jorge Martin, author of a solid performance that allowed him to increase his lead in the championship, but duels took place behind him that left consequences even after the checkered flag.

One of these featured Joan Mir and Marc Marquez, with the latter ending up at the back after crashing while leading the race. In a comeback attempt, the Gresini driver made a decidedly aggressive overtaking on the Majorcan and the two came into contact, with the consequence that the Race Direction inflicted a penalty on the eight-time world champion.

Marquez thus had to give up a position, but according to Mir this penalty was too light. Once again, the Honda rider speaks bluntly and lashes out at the Race Direction, judging them to be inconsistent with the decisions he takes. As an example he gave what happened last year in the Sprint in Portimao, when Mir was penalized with a double Long Lap for a similar contact.

“The last time I was penalized was in Portimao last year for a similar episode. I braked, overtook Fabio (Quartararo, ed.), touched him and lost a few positions. I also crashed but for the Sunday race I had to serve a double Long Lap. It was my last penalty,” he recalled.

“This time, he didn't fall. He pushed me off the track, I lost four positions and they made him give up one. We need to understand. I asked my team how it was possible that they say one thing to a driver and that the same maneuver, which ended worse, only caused him to lose one position. It's incredible how the commissioners evaluate this kind of thing,” roared the 2020 world champion.

Mir thus lashes out against those who make the decisions, which he says are too irregular. Already at the start of the Sprint today we had seen a very aggressive overtaking by Binder on Pecco Bagnaia, with the reigning champion ending up on the ground but no consequences in terms of penalties. “They are so irregular on sanctions, it's almost unbelievable. I like overtaking with contacts, it's something that happens because with aerodynamics it's very difficult to overtake. But it's one thing to touch, it's another to open the trajectory and get the driver off the track. They have to judge like they did before, I don't understand.”

“If he had waited three seconds longer, we would both have gone around the bend and he would have passed me on the straight. I really don't understand why she did it, for that position! I understand for a podium, but like this… It's something that can't be done, and if you do it, you have to be penalized”, concluded the HRC standard bearer.