After his struggle for the win at Jerez with Francesco Bagnaia came up short, Marc Marquez had tire tracks down his right arm. However, the Spanish Grand Prix runner-up was satisfied with how his battle with the Ducati rider went, stating, “but he defended – aggressively, but in a good way.”
During the Saturday Sprint, Marquez lost control of the lead after getting caught out by a wet section of the Jerez track.
The Gresini Ducati rider acknowledged that his “mistake from yesterday was super heavy on the shoulders,” which cost him pole position at the start of the Grand Prix on Sunday.
But as the race progressed, Marquez managed to take out Marco Bezzecchi, who would ultimately finish on the podium, and then he launched an attack on Bagnaia, going head-to-head with the defending champion on Laps 21 and 22 of the 25-lap race.
“I was extra careful because I saw a lot of crashes in Moto2,” Marquez said to MotoGP.com as he described the first few laps of his race.
However, this was the day to take the podium and avoid another collision, as a rider cannot afford to lose three straight races to a crash.
“So, I tried, even in this manner. I was moving at a really excellent speed.
The bike was amazing; I had fresh air when I passed [Marco] Bezzecchi. I was moving so quickly that I managed to catch Pecco (Bagnaia).
Despite finishing second and meeting Bagnaia, Marquez had no ill will after the race.
The Spaniard expressed satisfaction not only with the kind of rivalry between the two, but also expressed amazement at Bagnaia’s ability to achieve a racing lap record just before the Grand Prix finished.
The moment to win the race was there, but Marquez countered with an aggressive yet effective defense.
He dealt well with the cards here, and this is racing.
After I completed one more lap behind him, the temperature of the front tires increased, making it difficult to apply severe braking. However, I must add that he also startled me with that quick lap in the final two laps.
Even if Marquez didn’t win, it was still a significant occasion for him to be in the running for the title four years after he nearly lost his career due to an injury he had at the Jerez track.
The eight-time Grand Prix winner made the choice to switch from Honda to a satellite Ducati this season in an effort to demonstrate his continued ability to compete at the top of the field, and he did just that on Sunday.
I mean, my nightmare began four years ago,” he remarked.
And it was really difficult. However, I pray and hope that my second life begins today.
“Yes, it was a nightmare, and yes, we still don’t move past that awful experience.
But we do have encouraging and wonderful news gradually.
“I want to express my gratitude to everyone in my immediate vicinity, to those who have shown me a great deal of support, to Honda for honoring my decision, and to Gresini and Ducati for allowing me to ride this year on their behalf.
I’m content and having fun. I’m quick when I’m happy.
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