FILE PHOTO: MotoGP - French Grand Prix - Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans, France - May 14, 2023 Repsol Honda Team's Marc Marquez in action during the MotoGP race REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo
(Reuters) - Honda rider Marc Marquez crashed into Johann Zarco during practice at the German Grand Prix on Friday, with the collision splitting the Pramac Racing bike in two while launching the unlucky Frenchman into the air.
As Zarco exited the pit lane, he was looking back to allow Marquez to go through but the Honda rider locked up his front tyre and fell as his bike hit Zarco's Ducati machine a split second later, giving the Frenchman no time to react.
Zarco landed heavily on the track next to the mangled remains of his bike while Marquez quickly jumped to his feet to return to the pit lane. The session was immediately red flagged.
Both riders were, however, able to get back on track when the session was restarted but Marquez -- who has won at the Sachsenring eight times in his MotoGP career -- could not complete a lap in time and will go into Q1 on Saturday.
However, Marquez refused to take the blame, saying: "If I'm a guy that makes a mistake, I say it's my mistake. This time I'm angry because if somebody could have avoided that situation, it was Johann.
"The guy that is coming out of the pit lane is the guy who needs to watch behind. And if somebody is coming, especially in the last minutes, you need to stop at the pit exit."
Zarco said it was a "racing incident" but added he was not impressed when Marquez did not even bother to check if he was OK and refused to take the blame for the crash.
"He could have at least come when I was on the floor. I can understand he wanted to run to his (spare) bike to get another lap time, but because of the red flag he could have seen it was OK," Zarco said.
"I like the way Marc is riding and the way he is pushing. He is a champion, but he's losing a bit of control when he speaks. He should think twice before speaking because just having the idea to say that it is my fault is not acceptable."
Six-times MotoGP champion Marquez has struggled with Honda this season and has yet to finish a race after multiple crashes as he tries to push his bike to its limits.
The Spaniard was also responsible for a collision with Miguel Oliveira at the season-opening Portuguese Grand Prix in March.
Marquez injured his hand and underwent surgery, forcing him to sit out races in Argentina, Texas and Spain.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
