It’s official: it’s the usual Marquez, willing to take risks, crash, take a slipstream, do anything to get to the result. “I slipped twice, but the second time I consider it normal when you push to set the time. The Kalex frame is a step forward, but that’s not enough”
12 maggio 2023
Le Mans – It was understood yesterday during the press conference: it’s always the Alone Marc Marquez. That of Thursday, however, was just a sensation, which became a certainty today: it’s the usual Marc Marquez. So a pilot who cares of a possible one fall (he went down twice today); that pushes always and in any case al 100%; who uses everything he can to get the best result; who cares if it can appear – indeed, it appears! – cheeky.
“I am very happy with today, even though I fell twice. The second, however, is absolutely acceptable, a normal crash in a GP: push with new tyres, try to do your best, it’s okay. Maybe the first could have been avoided, but after you’ve been at home for a month, it’s difficult to go out on the track, be fast, test the tyres. For this GP, the best choice was not made (by Michelin, NDA): the anterior media is not working well, but I mounted it and fell. Why did I decide to use it? To have more available soft tires for the rest of the weekend. In the afternoon it was possible to push with the soft tire throughout the session: the team did it perfect strategy and this made it possible go straight into Q2. I’m happy for me, I’m sorry for the team that has to work to fix the bike”
Have you tried the Kalex frame?
“Yes: it was an intense day, every time I entered the track I had a different bike, a different frame, which means a change in riding style. But it was the right time to do it, it was a positive test. For tomorrow we have to analyze the situation well, but we should go ahead with the Kalex chassis to collect as much data as possible. We won’t be able to have two bikes with the Kalex chassis, because we only have two and Mir has the other, as is normal in a factory team”
Does this chassis make Honda take the step forward it hoped for?
“It’s an improvement on this circuit in certain respects, but it’s not enough: it’s a step forward, but more needs to be done. We still lose too much in acceleration, we have to force a lot in braking, push on the front: this is why the Honda riders crash so much. But this is the way to improve, I always push to try and be more competitive”
As you said it was a busy day; considering that you’ve been out for a month and then, after the little break, there will be three consecutive races, wasn’t it better to save up a bit?
“I think 90% of the riders would have done that, they would have faced the day calmly, step by step. But I’m not like that: I’m back, I’m ready to push and work for the team. Working for the team means taking risks: today I managed the limit, as I said the first crash could have been avoided, but the second is part of my way of thinking. I said: I’m trying to improve my time, if I crash there will be yellow flags and the others won’t be able to improve (he really said it like this! NDA). In the second crash I was using a new frame (Kalex, NDA), different: I know the old one well, with this one I’m not sure what the limit is, how the bike reacts. I repeat, it’s okay: if you lose a tenth on the straight, you can only recover it under braking or in the last part”
Was it a tiring day?
“No, not that much: I had such a strong desire to get back on the bike, that I only consider this day a positive one. It’s no coincidence that I’m the only Honda in Q2, I’m always willing to take risks”
How’s the hand?
“With everything I’ve suffered over the past year, this is nothing. It bothers me a little, but it doesn’t limit me in any way.”
