Update: The FIM Stewards have given Franco Morbidelli a Long Lap penalty for 'riding in an irresponsible manner, causing a crash involving Rider #73'.

An appeal by Morbidelli's Monster Yamaha team was rejected on the grounds that Morbidelli "was observed as being ambitious in his attempt to overtake, causing contact and crash with Rider #73".

Marquez was overtaken by Morbidelli’s team-mate Fabio Quartara𝔍ro into the corner, the Iꦰtalian then hugged the inside and drew almost alongside the Gresini rider.

But when Marquez, unaware of Morbidelli on the kerb, squared o✃ff the exit their ꦗpaths crossed, sending both riders to the ground.

Others𓆉 were caught up in the chaos that followed, most notably title leader Marco Bezzecchi, while Morbidelli was lucky to escape largely unharmed when he was clipped by Takaaki Nak🌃agami.

“I didn't expect that because I was on the inside, on the line, there was no space and when I heard a bike, I said, ‘from where is it coming?’ Then I felt the contact, which was quite big. Then we꧑ were really lucky nobody hit us [harder].

“For me it was past the limit, because there was no space,” Marquez added. “But I mean [the FIM Stewards decisions]�ꦆ� is a lottery. So we will see…”

Told of Marquez’s words, Morbidelli responded:

“I didn't try to overtake him! I was doing🤡 my corner.

“He got overtaken by Fabio and went a bit wide. I saw a gap, I went to do my corner nice and tight. I didn't want to overtake him. I said, ‘OK, I put my bike here’ and to me the guy c💃ame cutting the li😼ne.

“He didn't see me [🔯or] he left no space, I don't know, but the result is that he cut the line, we touch and I crashed. I didn't want to overtake anybody. I just wanted to do my corner.

“But you know, it’s a Sprint race. Every position you gain counts a whole lot. If you gain a position, most likely you're going to keꦫep it all race long because overtaking is so difficult nowadays.

“This is the result. Peop🎃le riskinღg, risking, risking.”

Marquez agreed that, after a relatively calm sprint in COTA, the sh💛orter races have perhaps become even more ‘aggressive’ since their introduction in Portim♓ao.

“The approach is even more aggrꦉessive because people know now what is the game. So everybody is more aggressive. Everybody is pushing more and that’s it. It’⭕s racing, we are always on the limit. It’s also true that it's a really thin track here. So anyway it's like it is and we try to approach it in the best way.”

Asked for his opinion Quartarar🐼o said: "For me [Mor🦋bidelli] was really on the inside, but I'm not the one that is overtaking. Of course, it's a race incident, but optimistic."

Morbidelli: 'Taka deserves a nice present, it could have been much worse'

Morbidelli praised Nakagami for doing everything possible to♎ avoid a heavier impact with his left leg as he la🎃y fallen on the asphalt.

“I'm very happy that nothing serious happened because I remained in the middle of the track and actually I want to thank especially Taka for his reflex in avoiding m🍨e,” Morbidelli said.

“I think he deserves a nice present. I will sort out a nice present to give him because he did the maximum to 🎃avoid me and he just hit me [a little] but it could have been, mu𝔍ch worse.”

Nakagami explained th⭕at he had been unsighted until the last moment and was relieved that Morbidelli, like the other riders involved, was able to make the restart.

“I couldn’t see, it was blind and many people were trying to pick up. Me as well. But I hit his leꦍg. I ౠcouldn't do anything. I tried at that moment the maximum to not crash and not hit him.

“I'm happy to see that he was on the g꧒rid for the second race. I feel sorry to him that I h༒it his leg.”

Marquez and Nakagami went on to crash out of the restar🔯t, when Morbidelli finish🌳ed 16th.