Luca Marini suffered his first crash of the 2025 MotoGP season after colliding with Pol Espargaro.

During the MotoGP Sprint Race at the Malaysian Grand Prix, Luca Marini suffered his first crash on a MotoGP race weekend of the 2025 season after he collided with Pol Espargaro.

The pair collided at Turn 14 after Marini attempted to pass Espargaro on the inside, but the Spaniard could not see the Italian and closed the door. This caused Marini to hit the deck, and Espargaro to run off track and lose positions.

No penalty was given after the incident, and Marini has taken responsibility as he 'went in too slowly' for the overtake.

"It was ok, at the end of every race I am satisfied because I am not looking for anything," Espargaro told MotoGP.com.

"I am just trying to be as fast as possible, try to collect some data, and give back to the team. It does not matter the result, I am not here to make results, so whatever comes, I am happy.

"If I can battle with these guys, then it is even better to be able to fight with Marco [Bezzecchi] and [Luca] Marini, they are very strong and fast. It is pure joy.

"It was a pity to be part of Luca's first crash [of the season]. He tried to overtake me, but he did not have enough speed. Because on my line, I could not see him, there was contact, and I lost four positions.

"But anyway, these things happen in racing, we have seen each other, and it is fine. Let's see tomorrow if we can collect better points."

'It was important to try to overtake Pol, because I was struggling...'

"I just have a little bit of pain in the nail area on my finger," Marini explained.

"My hand was stuck below the bike, and when I hit the kerb and went over the kerb, there were some holes in the sand and the grass. But nothing big.

"I saw Pol went a little bit wide, so I tried to go in. But I went in too slowly, I did not have enough speed, so he did not see me. He made his own line, and I was there, so we touched, and I crashed, but it is something that can happen.

"It was important to try to overtake Pol in that moment, because I was struggling, the race was really difficult for us. As soon as the pressure and the temperature of the front tyre are up, everything becomes difficult for us.

"We cannot brake, we cannot enter the corners fast, and there is no turning. It is a problem for everybody for sure, but we struggled more. So, it is a pity because we had the pace to fight for the podium. But starting from so far behind it is impossible."