AFP/PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
Gresini Racing racer Marc Marquez after crossing the finish line of the Portugal MotoGP series in Portimao, March 24 2024. Even though he only finished 16th due to a fall after colliding with Francesco Bagnaia, Marquez is optimistic about the next race.
LLEIDA, WEDNESDAY – Marc Marquez left Portimao carrying optimism, despite being involved in an incident with Francesco Bagnaia. Marquez put aside the impact that led to the accident, because his focus was already on COTA, the track he once dominated. In two weeks, Marquez will show that he is getting stronger on the Ducati Desmosedici GP23, to return to being the “Sheriff” of the American MotoGP series.
The potential for Marquez to achieve his first victory with Ducati at the Circuit of the Americas or COTA, in the next two weeks, is very large. Apart from the track with a counter-clockwise flow that really suits his riding style, now Marquez also understands the character of the Desmosedici GP better. He showed this clearly in the second MotoGP 2024 series race in Portimao, last weekend.
In that race, the Gresini Racing team racer showed solid pace during the practice session. If he doesn’t make a mistake in qualifying – activating the rear ride height device too early – he could potentially start from the front row. As a result of this mistake, he qualified with a spare motorbike, and could only start from eighth position.
Also read: Marquez Wins First Podium with Ducati
However, in the 12 lap sprint race, Marquez was very solid and finished in third place. This was Marquez’s first podium on a Ducati motorbike. However, in the main race, 25 laps, Marquez experienced problems at the start of the race. However, he was able to find a good pace at the end of the race with worn tires. In fact, he can catch up to Francesco Bagnaia. Marquez also tried to get ahead of Bagnaia, but the fight for fifth position resulted in a collision and they fell.
The incident will not stop Marquez from changing his racing approach. He will continue to attack when he has the opportunity to gain a better position. The six-time MotoGP world champion also emphasized that he would be more aggressive if he had the opportunity to win. He emphasized that the incident with Pecco, Bagnaia’s nickname, did not leave any feelings of hurt or irritation.
AP PHOTO/JOSE BRETON
Ducati Lenovo racer Francesco Bagnaia devours a corner followed by Ducati Gresini Racing racer Marc Marquez during the Portuguese Grand Prix MotoGP race at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal, Sunday (24/3/2024).
“It’s impossible to reach an understanding between two riders just an hour after the incident. But we have a good relationship with Pecco. It’s not a problem. He knows what he’s doing. He knows what he did wrong. I accept things like this can happen in racing, “said Marquez to MotoGP.
“The most important thing is, this weekend my speed was one that was faster than the other riders. Indeed, in the race I had more difficulties than I expected, because I had problems with confidence on the front of the motorbike, but I remained calm, without pressure, did not panic , and looking forward to the next race,” said Marquez.
It was impossible to reach an understanding between the two riders just an hour after the incident. But we have a good relationship with Pecco. Not a problem.
The next race will take place at COTA, where Marquez has won seven times since his MotoGP debut in 2013. He then won five consecutive wins until 2018, so he was named “Sheriff”.
In the 2019 season race, he failed to win because he fell at Turn 12 while leading the race by 3.8 seconds from Valentino Rossi in second place. That season, Alex Rins achieved the highest podium while defending Suzuki.
AFP/PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA
Spanish Ducati racer Marc Marquez sits on his motorbike on the starting grid ahead of the Portuguese Grand Prix MotoGP race at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao, Portugal, Sunday (24/3/2024).
Marquez then won his seventh victory at COTA in the 2021 season. This is a phenomenal achievement considering that his physical condition has not yet recovered 100 percent from a fractured right humerus injury, and Honda motorbikes are not the most competitive motorbikes.
In the 2022 season, Marquez showed who he is, by finishing in sixth place after being scattered in 24th place. Marquez was in the back position because when he started the engine speed limiter was still active, so the motorbike could not accelerate. Marquez was also in 24th position but then finished sixth. If he starts normally, he could potentially achieve a podium or even victory. Meanwhile, in the 2023 season, Marquez will miss COTA because he is still recovering from an injury resulting from an accident in the opening series at Portimao.
This season, Marquez returned to American soil with a physically fit condition, a competitive motorbike, and an increasingly solid adaptation to the Desmosedici GP23. He is getting faster, in qualifying and race pace, as he showed in Portimao. This potential will be even greater when Marquez races at COTA, a track that really suits his riding style, and he understands the details.
Also read: Bagnaia-Marquez incident is an alarm for Ducati
In the American series race which will take place on April 12-15 2024, the spotlight will be on Marc Marquez. He has great potential to achieve his first victory on a Ducati motorbike, as well as ending the long wait to return to the highest podium. Marquez won his last victory in the race at Misano on October 24 2021.
2024-03-27 13:49:46
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