A furious Joan Mir said he "needs" an apology from MotoGP rival Alex Marquez after their "crazy" high-speed crash in the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.
Marquez and Mir tangled up at speed going through the fast left-hander Turn 12 on the opening lap, with the former going into the barrier and the former's bike getting stuck on Mir's Honda as Mir rolled into the gravel to come to a halt and crash.
With both riders having retired on the spot, the incident is subject to a post-race investigation.
❌ @JoanMirOfficial and @alexmarquez73 are OUT!
— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) October 6, 2024
The incident is currently under investigation 👀#JapaneseGP 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/s0DHGofERn
"Turn 11 I overtook Alex Marquez - he went wide and I took the opportunity to overtake him," said Mir.
"Then we changed direction and when I was in the middle of the corner 12, he hit me but massively on the back.
"His bike got stuck between my seat and my swingarm and I went straight to the gravel.
"Unbelievable, crazy what happened.
"I think I need an apology, when you destroy the race of someone I want you to say sorry... if you really feel it."
Mir went on to suggest the younger Marquez was a repeat offender, drawing a parallel - but also a distinction - with the collision Marquez had had with Pecco Bagnaia in the podium battle at Aragon.
"It's normal that I’m angry, it’s not the first time something like this happens with him.
"The action is something similar as in Aragon with Pecco, it’s not exactly the same because I was clearly in front. Pecco was trying to overtake but I was clearly in front, but his bike got stuck in the same place.
"Crazy, crazy.”
Mir was also incensed by a perceived inaction by the MotoGP stewards' panel, accusing the stewards of being "asleep" - although he appeared to be under the mistaken impression a no-further-action ruling had already been made. At the time he spoke no verdict had actually been returned and Marquez had only just been brought in for a hearing.
Marquez was ultimately assessed a long-lap penalty, set to be served next time out at Phillip Island in the grand prix race, for "riding an irresponsible manner causing a crash".
In the meantime, Marquez's post-race session with print media was cancelled.
In a quote issued to the press, Marquez said he has now apologised to Mir but also expressed his discontent with the long-lap penalty - pointing to Jack Miller going unpenalised the week before.
"Seven days ago, another rider hit me the same way and nothing happened," he said. "This shows that rules don’t apply the same way to everybody, but it is what it is."
