Marc Marquez has attributed his “unfortunate” start to the MotoGP Austrian Grand Prix to a broken tyre valve and problems with the front ride height adjustment, followed by contact at Turn 1 which saw him drop from third on the grid to 13th after the first corner.

The Gresini Ducati rider’s start to Sunday’s race took a turn for the worse before the warm-up lap when his mechanics discovered a broken tire valve while checking tire pressure before the start.

They were filmed rushing to Michelin to change the rim, which was quickly repaired, but Marquez said that by concentrating on warming up the cold tyre during the warm-up lap, he inadvertently disabled the front ride height adjustment.

This caused him to slowly come off the line, losing positions and making contact with Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli at Turn 1, but both drivers escaped unhurt.

Despite dropping to 13th place, Marquez quickly fought his way back through the field, repeatedly diving up the inside of the chicane to gain positions and finish the race in fourth place, behind only Pecco Bagnaia, Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini.

“Today we were unlucky,” summed up Marquez.

“When the mechanics went to check the tire pressure 30 minutes before the start, the valve broke. Then, as you can see in the picture, they ran to Michelin to change it from that tire to another rim.

“But during the process everything was great and they did a very good job, but the tire temperature dropped a lot. Then this chaos caused everything.

“On the formation lap I concentrated on increasing the temperature of the front tyre. Then on the home straight I braked and the first brake worked well. But then I braked again and it came off.

“Then I didn’t have enough speed and without this front device it was difficult to get a good start.

“I was super calm in the first corner and told myself I would brake early so as not to overdo it and let’s see. And then I had a big collision from the left side and we went wide.

“We’re starting step by step from 13th place.”

Morbidelli dropped from eighth to 17th as a result of the incident at Turn 1, but said it was a “regrettable incident”.

“Marc had a different speed because he hadn’t activated the front braking system, so when I tried to brake he swerved to the left, maybe to avoid Jack (Miller), and we got tangled up,” he added after moving back up to eighth place.

Despite struggling with his front ride height adjustment, Marquez insisted that no ban should be imposed “because I made a mistake. It’s the same for everyone,” but welcomed the upcoming change in regulations from 2027 as a “solution.”

Marquez’s problems on Sunday came after he crashed while running second in Saturday’s sprint race after Martin received a penalty.

Despite scoring no points on Saturday and missing the podium on Sunday, Marquez said the weekend at the Red Bull Ring was “one of the best” he has experienced with Gresini so far.

“In Barcelona we finished second and second in the sprint race, but it was one of the worst weekends for us,” he said.

“This weekend was one of the best – the feeling on the bike, the speed in practice, in the warm-up, in qualifying – but we were eliminated yesterday with zero points and today with fourth place.

“But I really enjoyed this weekend and it’s here.”

When asked about his hunger to win given the increasing time since his last win, he replied: “It doesn’t matter to me. I know I have to build this year and I’m building. I’m trying to build that confidence and take it step by step.”

“It’s true, we started so well and then it looks like we took a step back and now it looks like we’re coming back.

“In the second half of the season we have to keep building and try to get on the podium and win. If it doesn’t work out this year, then next year.”