Marc Marquez arrives in Misano fresh from a simply triumphant weekend at Motorland Aragon. A return to victory expected, desired and achieved when we are in the second half of the season. Perhaps this victory came slightly later than expected, but we must still remember that Marc Marquez has spent his entire career riding a Honda in MotoGP and also needed time to adapt to a Ducati that was completely different from the bike he was used to.
The victory in Aragon could represent the moment in which Marc’s season changes, going in a different direction, which perhaps sees him able to remain in contention for the title also in 2024. Misano is certainly not one of his favorite tracks, and the fact of having to race twice on the Riviera track does not exactly represent a help for Marquez and the idea of still being able to cherish the dream of returning as champion. Certainly if he were to emerge from the two Misano stages without a significant points gap from the leader, the game could still be considered open.
“Of course my goal for this season was to win at least one race and I did it – Marc opens – Now it’s time to continue working. After that perfect weekend I feel I have an extra push that I hope to make the most of to move forward and continue working at my best. With the bike and the team we learn something every race and I feel better and better. I would like to start well with the same great sensations that I had at the Red Bull Ring, which would be perfect for me because it would mean that the sensations are right. I know that Aragon was also the result of particular conditions, not only for the asphalt but also for the rain that fell during the night. Here in Misano I know that Pecco, Jorge and Enea will be very fast, so the goal is to stay close to them”.
What do you think of Pecco’s words when he apologized to Alex?
“For me, what Pecco was feeling on Sunday was necessary and understandable. It’s very difficult to live a moment like that, with a world championship at stake and then go in front of the microphones. Everyone has their own idea and it’s right to respect everyone’s, but the words must always be correct towards the other drivers”.
You must have spoken to Alex in these days, how did you see him?
“Alex was sorry, because when someone accuses you of deliberately crashing a rival as a rider, it’s not nice to hear. We all know what we risk here every time. I would say he was very sorry, Alex is not a problematic rider, everyone knows that.”
On social media they’ve said all sorts of things.
“For me, everything that is said on social media should stay there. We are all mature enough to understand situations, then in this case Pecco also immediately apologized to Alex for his words, so there is no problem. It was a racing incident, I am sure that Alex had not seen Pecco and I am equally convinced that Pecco was slightly optimistic to close the rope like that”.
Images of the first test in Valencia with Ducati are flashing on the screen. Was that the moment you realised you would win again?
“I would say that was the moment, also in terms of my decision to continue. Also because that was the moment when I really felt that the direction of my thoughts was changing. At that moment I was already convinced that I would win at least one race in 2024. Now I know that we will have to work on the most complicated aspect of this MotoGP, which is consistency. This is why Jorge and Pecco are ahead and are the ones to beat. We will try to find the way to improve, especially in those that are our weak points.”
What did your extra edge represent in Aragon, what was that superiority really due to?
“The thing is that when you are the fastest of all, those who watch you think that you have everything under control, that you are intelligent and that you have a great strategy. But in reality it all depends on speed, I felt great and smooth from the first laps. In the race I was super focused and the fact of being faster than the others makes things easier. But it is true that I arrive here in Misano thinking that I can find the sensations of the Red Bull Ring more than Aragon. At Motorland we had an impressive weekend, but I think that the most realistic condition is that of the Red Bull Ring. Let’s see how it goes here, I will have to try to improve on the right-hand corners!”
Did you celebrate?
“I still haven’t really enjoyed that win in Aragon, actually, since I don’t have any free weekends I didn’t celebrate properly. Last night we had a nice dinner with the guys from Gresini. Then yesterday I went to the HRC box and spoke to the guys in my group, I told them that they had to feel part of this win. Everyone, not just Santi Hernandez. They were with me, they helped me during a very dark period of my life. So I wanted to tell these guys that they were part of my process, especially from a personal point of view”.
Do you feel like you’re fighting for the title?
“For me the fight remains a matter between Pecco and Jorge. They have been very fast all season. Enea was very good and fast at Silverstone, I was at Aragon. But they are always ahead and this is the biggest difference today between us and them.”
You used to win regularly, just think about what you did until 2019. Is it more difficult to win in MotoGP now, even for Marc Marquez?
“It’s harder now. Until 2019 I was very fast and I can also say that at the time I was probably working less at home, everything was easier. Now after everything that’s happened in my life and to my body, I have to work twice as hard, I have to do more physiotherapy. But it’s the only way to do it if I want to continue at a high level and I’m ready to do it. It takes more effort and more time, but if I want to race at the top it’s because I can do it.”
You’ve taken a big weight off your shoulders in Aragon.
“Yes, before Aragon I was starting to worry about not winning but I must also say that often in this 2024 I felt I could do it. Then various things happened, it always seemed that for one reason or another this victory would not come. Now that I have done it I cannot think that my objectives for the season will change radically, the only thing I can do is work to find that consistency of results that I am missing. Something that will be important from now until the end of the year, but especially for 2025, it will be decisive in whether or not I will fight for the 2025 title”.
Maybe this will make the second part of the season more peaceful for you.
“Obviously he feels less pressure. I had this weight on my shoulders, it seems clear to me. I would say that now I will be able to race with a slightly different approach. Then I have to say that I don’t think I will be able to find another track like Aragon between now and the end of the year, so I certainly don’t expect to be able to do another weekend like that. I think instead that I can work better to be at Pecco’s level more often.”
Do you feel like you’re fighting for the title?
“Anything can happen, there are a lot of points up for grabs. It can rain, there can be some strange races. But I see it as complicated, a single weekend doesn’t change the inertia of an entire season. It can give you confidence, it certainly helps you. But the inertia of the season is that there are riders who are a little faster than me. Of course, if I were to find myself 50 points behind the leader, perhaps I would think about it differently.”
What kind of atmosphere do you think you’ll find in the Ducati garage during your first test as an official rider?
“In the garage the environment will have to be good and healthy, certainly with a nice rivalry but above all healthy. On the track everyone thinks of their own interests, but when we are in the garage we will certainly both work together to have the fastest bike possible, because if one doesn’t win the other must be able to win”.
Photocredit ©Pier Luca Brunetti
