Marc Márquez won this Sunday, November 1, the Malaysian MotoGP Grand Prix, but his celebration has been marked by a tribute to the victims of the Urda (Toledo) railway accident. After crossing the finish line in first place, the Ducati rider unfolded a Spanish flag with a black ribbon next to the coat of arms, which waved during his honorary lap of the Sepang circuit. With this gesture, the Spaniard wanted to remember the 69 people who died in the tragedy of last Wednesday, October 28, and show his support for the injured and their relatives.
The tribute continued after Márquez got off the motorcycle. The rider from Cervera showed the Spanish flag again during the celebration with the members of his team, before going up to the podium to collect the winner’s trophy. During the ceremony, visibly moved while the Spanish anthem played, he blew several kisses to the sky in memory of the victims. In addition, the three Spaniards who occupied the first positions, Marc Márquez, Pedro Acosta and Álex Márquez, decided not to uncork the prosecco as a sign of respect for the deceased.
"Toledo, Urda, we are with you": Marc Márquez's words
The tribute was not limited to the flag and the gestures during the trophy presentation. In his statements after the race, Márquez wanted to send a direct message to the people affected by the railway accident that has shaken Spain in recent days. "Let us remember all the people of Spain, of Toledo, of Urda... we are with you", he stated before the DAZN microphones.
The rider explained that the initiative had been prepared during the previous night, when he asked the members of his team to have a Spanish flag with the black mourning ribbon ready to show it in case of victory. "It is the least we can do, be with the Spanish people, be with Toledo, with Urda and close to those families who are victims of that tragic accident", said the Ducati rider, who had planned to share this tribute with other Spanish riders.
In fact, Máximo Quiles has also displayed a flag of Spain with a black ribbon after prevailing in the Moto3 race, thus joining the gestures of remembrance that have taken place during the weekend in Malaysia. Since Thursday, several Spanish riders had publicly expressed their condolences to the families and their concern over the consequences of the Urda accident.
Márquez dominates in Sepang and edges closer to the MotoGP world title
In the sporting section, Marc Márquez has signed one of his most decisive victories of the season. The Spanish rider has taken control of the race from the opening laps and has imposed a pace that his pursuers have not been able to match. Finally, he has crossed the finish line with more than four seconds of advantage over Pedro Acosta, who has finished second, while Álex Márquez has completed an all-Spanish podium.
The victory allows the Ducati rider to extend his lead in the championship to 44 points over Jorge Martín, who was unable to take part in the race due to the physical problems resulting from his injury in Australia. Márquez thus reaches 399 points and faces the last three events on the calendar with the possibility of conquering a new world title.
The next Grand Prix will be held in Qatar, from November 6 to 8, where the Spanish rider could mathematically be crowned champion if he manages to increase his lead sufficiently over his pursuers. It would be his eighth MotoGP title and the tenth of his career in all categories, consolidating even more his position among the great names in the history of motorcycling.
However, Sunday’s celebration in Sepang has had a meaning that has gone beyond the sporting result. On a day especially important for his championship aspirations, Márquez has wanted to share his victory with the families who are going through mourning over the Urda train accident.
The image of the rider riding around the circuit with the flag of Spain and the black armband has become one of the most notable moments of the Malaysian Grand Prix. A tribute that has carried the memory of the victims of Toledo to the MotoGP podium and that has ended with a message of solidarity from the Spanish champion: "Urda, we are with you".