Neil Hodgson backs Marc Marquez penalty as he praises 'real deal' winner Pedro Acosta at Grand Prix Thailand Sprint

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TNT Sports punditry trio Neil Hodgson, Michael Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli were all in agreement that the right decision was reached to force Marc Marquez to give up the lead to Pedro Acosta towards the end of the Grand Prix Thailand Sprint race on Saturday. After the race, Marquez was keen to focus on a relatively successful return to the track after months out with injury.

Grand Prix Thailand Sprint highlights: Acosta triumphs as Marquez penalised

Video credit: TNT Sports

Neil Hodgson, Michael Laverty and Sylvain Guintoli all agreed that Marc Marquez was rightfully punished at the Grand Prix Thailand Sprint on Saturday.

The world champion made a late attack on KTM’s Pedro Acosta, with the Ducati Lenovo man having led for much of the race after Marco Bezzecchi crashed out early.

Marquez and Acosta exchanged the lead a few times with some intensely competitive racing, but the younger man had the upper hand towards the end, leading Marquez to attack from deep.

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The view from Hodgson - and the rest of the TNT Sports team - was that Marquez had attacked from too deep and a punishment was inevitable.

Hodgson said: "When you see it again, the pass isn't on, and we discussed it, and it's so true. If Acosta sat up now, he could cut under Marc Marquez and square him off, but he toughed it out and, because he toughed it out, he pushed him off the track. It's done.

"That's a standard thing you can do in that situation. But it was late, so Pedro by then was already committed, already turning in."

'He's too far back' - Laverty agrees with Marquez punishment at Grand Prix Thailand Sprint

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He suggested that Marquez would not be too downbeat by the decision, given he had looked rusty in recent weeks at testing and was still not fully fit.

Hodgson added: "It’s his first race for four and a half months, and he almost won it on a weekend it wasn’t going too well for him."

The two riders came together on the corner and, looking at a further replay, Hodgson reflected that there was a moment’s contact but it was the kind of racing that fans wanted to see.

"There was contact there. He's about two bike lengths too far back," he said. "But I love that he tried and that's why we love Marc Marquez, and that's why we love racing."

Turning to the battle between the two compatriots, Hodgson predicted that Acosta could become a "legend" in his own right and thought there would be a heated battle between them in the future.

He said: "There is plenty more to come between these two riders. You've got the legend of Marc Marquez and the legend that is going to be, this man, Pedro Acosta.

'That's pushed him off the track!' - Watch Acosta v Marquez key moment in Thailand Sprint

Video credit: TNT Sports

"He's got the self-belief, Pedro is the real deal, we know that."

Fellow pundit Laverty supported Hodgson’s verdict on the race directors. He was pleased that the current world champion accepted the decision to lose a place, praising his sportsmanship in what could be a crucial setback later down the line this season.

"The fact he missed his apex, he released too far back, too late," he began. "It's a good decision to make it before the flag. The right rider crossed the line in front. It's magnanimous of Marc to accept it.

"We want to see those decisions made and the riders accept it."

Guintoli echoed the pair's thoughts, simply stating: "Marc is a long way back, for that type of corner [your only option] is releasing the brake and running the rider off the track. I do agree with the decision"

Marquez: ‘I am happy’ despite race penalty

Speaking to TNT Sports after the race, Marquez was happy to accept the decision from the race directors that cost him his win.

He said: "In my opinion, race direction decides.

"When I saw Bezzecchi crashed I slowed down the race and tried to control as I know this championship is super long. Every time Pedro overtook me and overtook him straight away at the next corner."

'I'm not riding well' - Marquez admits struggles on Ducati after surgery

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The Spaniard explained that, given he had been out of action since last October because of a shoulder injury sustained at Grand Prix Indonesia, he was focused on a relatively successful return to the track.

He said: "Unfortunately, I got that penalty but nine points, the first race after injury, I am happy."

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