They prefer to wait
All the riders felt the pressure of the new format all weekend, but none wanted to publicly stake a definitive view until a few more Grands Prix had passed. The consensus: the schedules and even the duration of the workouts probably needed adjustments. Still, one fact stood clear: the opening race of the season’s first three days meant that four top MotoGP riders were knocked out of contention this week at Argentina’s second GP, held at the Termas de Río Hondo circuit. Pol Espargaro (GasGas), Enea Bastianini (Ducati), Marc Márquez (Sling), and Miguel Oliveira (Aprilia) exited early, signaling the first real challenge to the new order among the official factory teams.
Márquez misses Argentina after hand surgery
After a fall that ended with a wall of tires replaced by an air barrier, the injuries looked serious. The worst affected appeared to be the jaw and several vertebrae, and the prognosis for a quick return remained uncertain. Márquez, along with his KTM teammate from the Espargaró family, faced a period of recovery that could stretch for months, casting doubt on when he would be back in the saddle.
In the meantime, the youngest Espargaró brother remained a mystery on a return timeline, with teams and fans watching closely as the medical team cleared the way forward. The overall mood around Portimao centered on resilience and the hope that a full recovery would follow any needed time away from the track.
As the season moved forward, Bastianini’s accident left him injured as well. A collision with Luca Marini fractured his right collarbone, limiting his participation and raising questions about whether he could race in Austin, Texas, the next stop. Some reports suggested a potential return for the North American GP, while others warned that a late diagnosis could force a return to Europe, possibly delaying his comeback until Jerez.
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In the wake of the dramatic moment involving Márquez and Oliveira during a high-speed crash at Turn 4 on the third lap, Oliveira remained focused on returning to the United States future races, while Márquez pursued a path toward recovery and a potential return to competition later in the season. The dynamics off the track and on it created a tense atmosphere as teams recalibrated after a weekend that tested new formats and the endurance of everyone involved.
“Before we make a decision about the new format of the weekend, we have to wait for a few more great awards because we’ve had a lot of training in Portimao.”
The Portimao event highlighted how the season’s changes could amplify risk, with the group acknowledging that more time and experience would be needed to gauge the ultimate effect of sprint races and extended weekends. The response was mixed: some praised the challenge as an opportunity to push performance, while others urged caution and a more measured approach to scheduling and pace.
As the season progressed, Márquez’s accident and Oliveira’s hard impact shaped a narrative of resilience. The Catalan Honda rider’s own injuries and the decision to skip Termas de Río Hondo pointed toward a cautious strategy for the coming races, especially at tracks where he has performed well in the past. The emphasis remained on maintaining safety while pursuing competitive opportunities across the calendar.
Specific criticisms
No rider wanted to admit the harsh reality after Portimao: the high number of accidents and the frequency of incidents across the top class were, in part, a consequence of the new season’s structure. Márquez urged patience, noting that the weekend had demands that pushed riders harder than usual, and that progress came with riding at the edge and then pulling back when necessary. The claim that schedules and the sprint race on Saturday caused the trouble was not agreed upon by all, but the sentiment was clear: more data was needed before drawing firm conclusions.
Some riders, including Aleix Espargaró and Jorge Martín, described heightened tension and risk. Others suggested a calmer approach was essential, arguing that racing should be a calculated contest rather than an aggressive sprint to overtake. The consensus, as many expressed, was a need to rethink pacing and decision-making to avoid unnecessary risks while preserving the excitement of MotoGP.