Marc Marquez has called for urgent safety improvements at the TT Circuit Assen after a weekend of alarming crashes left multiple riders injured and reignited concerns over the circuit's gravel run-off areas.
Despite producing one of the most thrilling rounds of the 2026 MotoGP season, the Dutch Grand Prix also highlighted growing fears about rider safety, with Marquez leading calls for changes after witnessing several violent accidents.
Key Highlights
- Marc Marquez urged MotoGP to review Assen's gravel run-off areas after several high-speed crashes.
- Fermin Aldeguer suffered a broken vertebra, ruling him out for the remainder of the summer.
- Marco Bezzecchi escaped serious injury after a dramatic lap-two crash sent him tumbling through the gravel.
- Multiple riders, including Luca Marini, Maverick Viñales, and Jorge Martin, backed calls for improvements to the circuit's safety features.
Marquez Raises Fresh Concerns Over Assen's Gravel Traps
Although Assen remains one of MotoGP's most iconic circuits, Marquez believes its run-off areas no longer offer adequate protection for today's high-speed machines. The Ducati rider, who suffered a minor crash during Friday practice, admitted he approached the weekend cautiously because of the risks involved if a rider reaches the gravel at high speed.
Following Sunday's race, Marquez warned that the gravel traps are causing riders to become airborne instead of safely slowing down. "Assen is a very nice circuit," Marquez said. "They need to do something about the run-off areas because every rider that's going on the gravel with high speed is flying."
He pointed to Aldeguer's practice crash and Bezzecchi's race incident as clear examples of a recurring safety issue.
Aldeguer and Bezzecchi Crashes Spark Alarm
The biggest concern came after Fermin Aldeguer suffered a broken vertebra during practice, an injury that will sideline the young Spaniard for the rest of the summer.
On race day, Marco Bezzecchi crashed heavily while chasing Marquez for third place after losing the front of his Aprilia at Turn 15. The Italian rolled repeatedly through the gravel before stopping just short of the barriers near the pit-lane entrance. Although Bezzecchi was taken to hospital for precautionary checks, medical examinations confirmed he had escaped without serious injuries.
Riders Call for Bigger Run-Off Areas
Honda rider Luca Marini believes Bezzecchi was fortunate to avoid a far worse outcome and urged MotoGP's Safety Commission to review the Turn 15 run-off.
Marini argued that modern MotoGP bikes now carry significantly more corner speed, leaving riders with too little room to decelerate before reaching the barriers. He also questioned whether gravel remains the safest solution, suggesting that larger run-off areas incorporating grass could reduce the violent bouncing and rolling seen in recent crashes.
Growing Support for Circuit Safety Review
Marquez's concerns were echoed across the paddock. Maverick Viñales admitted he was surprised Aldeguer suffered such a serious injury after what initially appeared to be a relatively minor crash, noting that riders seem to "fly" once they hit the gravel.
New championship leader Jorge Martin also believes he avoided injury during his own practice crash because his bike slid across grass rather than gravel. With several leading riders now voicing similar concerns, pressure is mounting on MotoGP organisers and Assen officials to reassess the circuit's run-off design before future races.
The Dutch Grand Prix once again delivered spectacular racing, but the events of the weekend have made rider safety an equally important talking point heading into the next round.
