Moto2: Marc Marquez penalised for Espargaro clash

UPDATE: Penalty later overturned on appeal. See separate story.

Moto2 title favourite Marc Marquez has been given a one-minute post-race time penalty for his collision with Pol Espargaro in the closing stages of Sunday's Catalunya round.

The incident occurred on lap 21 of 23, moments after Marquez had saved a near lowside fall as he rode through turn ten, at the end of the back straight.

Espargaro, title leader at the time, dived for the inside gap that opened up ahead of him while Marquez fought to control his Suter. However Marquez then cut back across the racetrack to rejoin the racing line, hitting Espargaro.

The pair were almost side-by-side when the contract was made, with Marquez marginally ahead, and the Repsol rider later claimed he had simply not seen Espargaro, who was hugging the inside kerb and sent cartwheeling after the impact.

Marquez went on to finish third, but will now drop to 23rd. His rostrum place is inherited by Espargaro's Pons Kalex team-mate Esteve Rabat.

The penalty was imposed by Race Direction 'for infringement to article 1.21.2' which states: "Riders must ride in a responsible manner which does not cause danger to other competitors or participants."

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner was among those who felt that the penalty was harsh, writing on Twitter: "Can't believe they gave Marc Marquez a 1min penalty!! Another reason why this championship needs some sorting out! I've seen much worse."

Stoner is retiring from MotoGP at the end of this year and has named Marquez as his natural replacement in the Repsol Honda team, had the MotoGP 'rookie rule' not been in place.

In the Moto2 standings, the loss of 16 points drops Marquez to fourth place, 18 points from leader Thomas Luthi and one point behind Espargaro and Andrea Iannone, who won Sunday's race.

Marquez had escaped a penalty after contact with Luthi on the last lap of the Qatar season-opener.