MotoGP star Marquez among riders delayed due to visa issues

Visa issues prevented many riders and team personnel headed for the inaugural Indian GP, including Spanish rider Marc Marquez, the sport's biggest name, from boarding their flights on Tuesday.

- Sandip Sikdar

"Flight delayed due to lack of visa for Indian GP so we're going to pedal for a little while," the 30-year-old Spaniard posted on Instagram with a picture of him cycling.

An official of Fairstreet Sports, local promoter of the event, who did not want to be named, said the travel agency hired caused a technical error in the application process, leading to the delay.

Marquez's Honda teammate and 2020 world champion Joan Mir also had to reschedule his flight in the build-up to the race to be held at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida on Sunday. The delay in the arrivals of the two riders forced the Honda factory racing team to cancel a pre-race event scheduled on Wednesday morning.