WATCH: Pecco Bagnaia's controversial crash with Alex Marquez at Argon GP triggers war of word

The recent Aragon GP witnessed a controversial clash between Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia and Alex Marquez, sparking a heated exchange of words between the two MotoGP riders. The incident occurred during an intense battle for third place, where Bagnaia attempted to overtake Marquez, who had run wide, leading to a heavy crash.

The collision caught the attention of the FIM Stewards, who ultimately decided that "no further action" was necessary. They concluded that "neither rider was determined to be predominantly responsible" for the incident. However, the aftermath of the crash saw tensions flare as Bagnaia made pointed remarks about Marquez's actions during the race.

Here is the video of the crash:

Podium battle ends up in a collision! 😱💥@PeccoBagnaia and @alexmarquez73 find themselves crashing together as they were fighting for P3! 😲#AragonGP 🏁 pic.twitter.com/ZPtejcpu1N

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) September 1, 2024

In an interview with MotoGP.com, Bagnaia expressed his concerns, suggesting that Marquez may have deliberately kept the throttle open, contributing to the crash. “As soon as I entered the [next] corner [13], I heard his engine opening. He was opening the throttle. So he was trying to arrive at this contact,” Bagnaia stated. He further emphasized his point by adding, “I wanted to look at that data... He remained with 60 per cent, and 40 per cent of the throttle open until when he crashed. So this is very strange by a rider, I think.”

Alex Marquez responds to Pecco’s allegations

These remarks did not sit well with Alex Marquez, who soon took to social media to clarify his stance. On Monday, Marquez responded with a firm statement, expressing his dismay at being accused of deliberate wrongdoing. 

“After reading some statements I would like to explain the following: I would never deliberately crash with another rider, and I will never accept being charged with it. It is not in my DNA, and it is not in the DNA of this sport,” Marquez asserted.

Despite the tension, Marquez revealed that he had spoken with Pecco Bagnaia privately, which helped ease the situation from his perspective. “The most important thing for me is the conversation I had yesterday with Pecco, and from my side, the issue is settled. Now it's time to rest and recover my body to be at 100% in Misano,” Marquez added.