Matching Max: Mark Marquez equalled Max Biaggi’s record for best-ever start to a rookie season.

MotoGP sensation Marc Marquez has fallen excruciatingly short of making the best ever start to a rookie season of racing in MotoGP following his DNF at Mugello.

After his Le Mans podium Marquez had climbed onto equal footing with Max Biaggi having scored 77 points from a win, a second place and two thirds across four rounds.

The Repsol Honda rider endured a difficult start to his Mugello campaign but persevered through extreme discomfort to pass his teammate Dani Pedrosa for second in the decisive stages of the 23-lap race.

Two laps later his hopes of a fifth podium were dashed as he went down and ultimately exited the race without scoring a point.

“Today we had with our first DNF of the season, but after three difficult days of setbacks and hard work, I finally felt good during the race,” said Marquez.

“I don’t fully understand why I crashed, as I lost both the front and the back at the same time and was unable to save it. It’s clear that we made a mistake, but we can’t go looking for excuses.

“We’ve looked at the telemetry and it shows that I was going at the same speed and on the same line as before but, anyway, you learn from these mistakes.”

It was a harrowing weekend for the Spanish rider who was already shaken after coming off his bike at close to 340 kilometres per hour on the front straight earlier in the meet.

G-forces measured by detectors in his race suit registered in excess of 25G as he hit the ground, and he was fortunate to emerge without major injury.

Marquez put the weekend down to a learning experience and look forward to focusing on a return to form at the next round.

“We can’t forget that this is my first year in the class and I am here to learn how things are in MotoGP,” he continued. “In spite of everything we were still fighting for second place, which is a reason to be happy.

“I want to apologise to Honda and to the team, as they always support me and work so hard. Now we are turning our focus to Montmelo, and I can’t wait to race there.”

Marquez now sits third in the championship, more than a full race win behind Pedrosa, and 14 points behind race winner Jorge Lorenzo.