Marc Marquez Calls for Safer Gravel Trap Configurations at Assen

Marc Marquez is advocating modifications to the gravel trap configuration at TT Circuit Assen after a series of concerning incidents during the Dutch Grand Prix.

The Dutch round of the 2026 MotoGP championship delivered intense competition, yet it was marred by several high‑profile crashes.

Most significantly, Fermin Aldeguer was sidelined for the remainder of the season after sustaining a vertebral fracture in practice, while Marco Bezzecchi was hospitalized on Sunday following a high‑speed crash on lap two.

In both accidents, riders traversed the gravel, struck the ground multiple times, and eventually came to a halt.

Having experienced a minor fall at Turn 16 during FP1, Marquez entered the weekend with heightened caution, aware that any error could result in an extended absence from competition.

After the Sunday race, the Ducati factory rider reaffirmed his safety concerns, insisting that additional measures are required to prevent riders from being catapulted into the air at high velocity.

“Assen is an excellent circuit,” he remarked. “I emphasized this last year and will continue to do so, because the run‑off areas must be addressed; when riders enter the gravel at high speed, they become airborne.”

He added that the recent injuries highlighted the urgency of the issue. “The Friday incident involving Aldeguer was typical, yet the gravel caused a hard impact. Today, Bezzecchi’s bike rolled across the gravel before stopping near the pit‑lane entry.”

Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team, Alex Marquez, Gresini Racing

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images

Bezzecchi lost the front end of his Aprilia while battling for third place at Turn 15. Carrying excess speed into the fast left‑hand corner, he slid through the gravel and came to a stop just before the pit‑lane barrier.

The former championship leader was transported to hospital for observation, but medical scans confirmed no serious injuries, and he was subsequently discharged.

Honda rider Luca Marini, who was involved in a similar incident, argued that the run‑off area at Turn 15 should be expanded to enhance safety.

“He was extremely fortunate not to collide with the barrier,” Marini stated. “Given the current bike performance, speeds are remarkable, and a crash in that zone could be far more severe if there is insufficient runoff.”

He further suggested that the gravel could be supplemented with grass, referencing the incident involving Jorge Martin in Turn 12 during practice, where a dry grass surface proved more forgiving than gravel.

“Martin’s crash did not involve jumping or rolling; Aldeguer’s impact was slower but still resulted in a hazardous situation because riders typically approach the gravel at high speed,” Marini explained. “Therefore we will discuss these matters with the safety committee to improve the runoff configuration, including the positioning of barriers.”

Marini also pointed out deficiencies at Turn 7, indicating multiple opportunities for enhancement.

Maverick Vinales expressed surprise that Aldeguer sustained an injury after what appeared to be a relatively moderate tumble at Turn 11.

“From the Bezzecchi crash, it seems riders can become airborne if they enter the gravel at high speed,” Vinales noted. “Although Aldeguer’s speed was modest, the gravel can still produce unexpected dynamics.”

Martin, who escaped injury during his own Turn 12 incident in practice, emphasized the importance of ample runoff and the presence of grass rather than gravel.

“Had there been gravel, I might have executed a backflip, which would have been undesirable,” Martin remarked.

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