Marc Márquez: "We've learned the hard way"

Rider Marc Márquez has given an interview to the Repsol team, which is undoubtedly one of the most interesting, since the Moto2 rider is learning at a remarkable pace about the intermediate class and has become one of the favourites.

Furthermore, the Catalan is one of those riders who learn from their early mistakes, and he has now become one of the most dangerous and strongest riders in Moto2.

Below you can watch the interview:
After the great pre-season you had, did you expect a start to the World Championship like the one you’ve had?

The adaptation I had during pre-season was better than we expected. When the competition began, we didn’t intend to maintain the level of the tests, but I didn’t expect to start with three crashes.

The positive side is that we suffered the crashes while we were fighting for the front positions. We knew that sooner or later the results would come, because we were doing good work and had a good level. We just needed a weekend that went more or less well, without ending up on the ground, and we would achieve a good result.

How did you cope at the start of the season when you were among the fastest in the category in practice, but after the first three races you had not yet scored a single point?

It’s clear that it was a bit difficult and that we needed our time, but above all with the help of the team, who reassured me, everything became easier. We knew it was our first season, that we had to learn and note the mistakes so they wouldn’t happen again. That’s what we did, and that’s why we started to get results.

Do you learn the hard way in Moto2?

There are different ways of learning in this category, and I have learned the hard way. That’s how you learn more and faster.

On the other hand, since France you have four victories and a second place in five races. What has changed? What have you learned to bring about such a spectacular change?

What has changed is that I have more kilometres, I know the bike’s reactions better, I feel much more comfortable on it, and I’m starting to enjoy myself.

Furthermore, we know each other better as a team. Santi [Hernández] and I know each other much better and understand each other much better. The whole group has been getting up to speed, and that has helped us to have a team now that is delivering the results we were looking for.

What is more important in Moto2: achieving a good race pace or securing a good position on the starting grid?

Everything is important. Achieving a good pace, because races are long and everything can change from start to finish, but it is also very important to get a good starting position on the grid.

In the timed practice sessions there are many riders, and without realising it you can be tenth or fifteenth; this forces you to make an extra effort in the race that leaves you very worn out if you manage to reach the front positions.

One of the supposed characteristics of Moto2 is great equality, but when it comes down to it, two riders have won most of the races: Bradl and you, plus Iannone who won one. Are you surprised? Do you expect someone else to reach your level on a regular basis?

The truth is yes, I thought there would be a bit more variety, but Bradl is showing great consistency that allows him to lead. We mustn’t lose patience and must go step by step. As it’s our first year and there are so many riders with a very good level around us, it’s very important to stay calm.

I think that in the rest of the season there will be more variety among the winners. There are several riders who could surprise us at any moment: Luthi, De Angelis, Takahashi, Iannone, Aleix Espargaró or Julián Simón, among others.

What is your assessment of the first half of the season, and how are you approaching the second?

A very positive assessment. I think we have to hold on to the last part of the first half of the championship, since we have achieved a good level and some victories. I’m very happy.

The zeros at the start of the season are clearly weighing on us now, but that’s how it goes; it’s the first year and we have to get used to it and learn from our mistakes, as we have shown we know how to do.

Plans for these holiday weeks?

Resting and being with family and friends. I’ll try to switch off, but I’ll also train to be at one hundred percent for Brno.

Source | Repsol Media Service