Marc Márquez Deploys Stand‑In for Motegi Kart Event, Draws Reprimand

The Japanese Grand Prix programme featured a kart‑racing exhibition for MotoGP riders on Sunday morning, but Marc Márquez opted out and sent a look‑alike to compete in his place, prompting a stern warning from the series.

Before the paddock arrived in Japan, the championship had advertised the kart race as a new addition to the weekend schedule.

Saturday’s tyre issues initially cast doubt on the event, leading teams to request an extension of the Sunday warm‑up session. Organisers reshuffled the timetable to accommodate a longer warm‑up, the kart race, and the customary parade lap.

The kart race turned into a light‑hearted spectacle, with Pramac riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Jack Miller providing entertainment, while Thailand’s Somkiat Chantra edged out Pedro Acosta for the win.

Márquez’s appearance in his helmet and gloves, however, drew the most attention, sparking suspicions among fellow riders, notably Jorge Martín, whose kart was positioned alongside Márquez’s.

Martín attempted to lift Márquez’s visor to confirm his identity, but the Ducati rider evaded the check. An IRTA official also sought clarification, receiving the same evasive response, making it clear that something was amiss.

After the extended 20‑minute warm‑up, Márquez underwent his usual physiotherapy routine and iced his right arm. At the last minute he decided to forgo the kart race and dispatched a stand‑in, though the ploy did not go unnoticed.

“I understand the show element, but we are fighting for the championship and are not here to mess around in kart races,” Márquez said after winning the Japanese GP. “Following the warm‑up I needed ice on my arm, and someone suggested sending a doppelgänger, which we did.” He added that he was reprimanded, but stressed that his priority was to perform at maximum when it matters—on the race track.

Jorge Martín, the championship leader and Márquez’s title rival, was the one who spotted the substitute. “I realised immediately it wasn’t Marc,” Martín said. “I also get why they did it; when the event was announced I wasn’t fully convinced either. These guys are unpredictable, and any contact from behind could jeopardise the race, so I moved to the back of the pack at Turn 1 and ended up with the slower riders.”

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