Marc Márquez enters the Qatar Grand Prix weekend with the opportunity to secure his 10th world championship, a milestone that would move him past nine-time champion Valentino Rossi. To clinch the title at the Losail International Circuit in Doha, the Lenovo Ducati rider needs to finish the weekend with a 30-point advantage over Aprilia’s Jorge Martín and eight points more than Marco Bezzecchi. Márquez, who has historically secured five of his seven MotoGP titles at the first available opportunity, arrived in Qatar shortly before the official press conference and intends to depart immediately following Sunday’s race.
Jorge Martín’s injury status and competitive outlook
Jorge Martín, currently Márquez’s closest challenger in the standings, returns to the track after recovering from a fracture to the radius in his right hand. While he has resumed training, the Aprilia rider acknowledged that his physical capacity remains uncertain.
“The bone, the radius of my right hand, is still broken,” Martín said. “I have worked hard these days, I feel, I think, better than in Malaysia, but until I do several laps on the bike tomorrow, in the first practice, I will not be able to know if I have the possibility of enduring a race.”
Martín noted that returning to the circuit where he sustained a significant injury last year has been difficult, yet he remains committed to competing. “I am a fighter, a warrior, and although, upon entering this circuit, where I hurt myself so much last year, my stomach has turned, I am going to try to score points and fight until the end.”
Márquez’s approach to the championship point
Despite the mathematical possibility of winning the title in Qatar, Márquez has emphasized a measured approach to the remaining sessions. He rejected the notion of altering his strategy to force a result, citing the need for consistency over desperation.
“I don’t plan to go crazy. No way! Zero anxiety and we will work like in any other Grand Prix and, later, if it is possible to win, it will be tried, otherwise the podium will be good and scoring points, too,” Márquez stated.
Reflecting on his season, Márquez identified the points lost by the Aprilia riders earlier in the year as a significant factor in his current lead. He noted that his own evolution as a rider—prioritizing calculated decision-making over the “all-or-nothing” style of his earlier career—has been vital to his performance.
“Before, everything was hot, I wasn’t afraid of anything,” Márquez said. “Now, I take the races and, above all, certain situations with more respect and prudence. You could say that I think much more about what I do and how to act on the track.”
Bezzecchi acknowledges difficulty of closing championship gap
Marco Bezzecchi, who led the championship by 102 points over Márquez after the first six races, acknowledged the difficulty of closing the gap. “Certainly, as long as the math is in my favor, I will fight, but it is very difficult, well, it is impossible to reach Marc,” Bezzecchi said. “I am not obsessed with that possibility and what I will do is prepare well for the two races and try to take advantage of my opportunities.”
Márquez also addressed the absence of his brother, Àlex Márquez, who provided tactical support during the previous round in Malaysia. Regarding the potential for team orders, Márquez noted that such measures were unnecessary between them. “Are we going to throw the bike at your brother? You would be a bad brother, wouldn’t you?” he said.
The MotoGP season continues with the sprint race on Saturday and the full Grand Prix on Sunday, marking the next confirmed checkpoint for the championship standings.
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