Marc Marquez to rescue: Pecco Bagnaia’s surprising taxi ride during Indonesian GP practice

In an unexpected yet heartwarming scene at the Indonesian Grand Prix, Marc Marquez came to the aid of reigning MotoGP champion Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia, who found himself stranded on the track after running out of fuel during the second free practice session.

What started as a strong finish for Bagnaia in FP2 ended in a lighthearted twist when his GP24 bike came to a sudden halt, leaving him in need of assistance. To his rescue came none other than his future Ducati teammate, Marc Marquez, who offered a ride back to the pit lane on his bike.

Here is the video:

The ultimate taxi service 🚖

Out of fuel? ⛽️ @marcmarquez93 comes to the rescue of his future teammate @PeccoBagnaia 🤝#IndonesianGP 🇮🇩 pic.twitter.com/wb8xJeMyhr

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 27, 2024

The incident occurred toward the end of the practice session, where Bagnaia had managed to secure an important spot in Q2, ensuring a solid starting position for the weekend. Despite his successful lap times, Bagnaia’s day took an unexpected turn when his bike ran out of fuel before he could make it back to the garage. As luck would have it, Marquez, who was passing by on his bike, noticed Bagnaia stranded on the track. Without hesitation, the #93 rider stopped to give Bagnaia a lift back to the pits.

What did Bagnaia say about the incident?

Reflecting on the amusing incident, Pecco Bagnaia admitted that he knew running out of fuel was a possibility, but he hadn’t planned for it. "I knew I might run out of gas because I did one lap more than I planned," he said, grateful for Marquez’s timely intervention. "Luckily, Marc passed! It was a big help because, in the still sun, it would not have been the best to stay there. He saw me almost standing still and helped me right away."

The reigning MotoGP champion was quick to acknowledge the camaraderie that exists among riders, emphasizing that such gestures are a testament to the mutual respect they share. "Between riders, we respect each other, it's hard to imagine someone not stopping in a situation like that," Bagnaia added, appreciating Marquez’s sportsmanship.

Marc Marquez’s lighthearted response to the incident brought an extra touch of humour, with the eight-time world champion joking, "I'll give him a taxi patch!" Bagnaia, on the other hand, expressed hope that he wouldn’t need any more "cabs" on the track in the future.