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MotoGP, Marquez: my rivals? Vinales, Rossi and Pedrosa

"Lorenzo? it's unclear whether he'll always be able to fight for the podium. I'm in a better position than I was at the start of last season"

MotoGP: Marquez: my rivals? Vinales, Rossi and Pedrosa

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The number 1 (albeit only metaphorically because he plans to stick with his 93) is on Marc Marquez's fairing, highlighting the fact that he is the rider to beat. The world champion's winter has been a series of highs and lows, though it has gone significantly better than that of 2016, during which he struggled to solve issues with his RC213V.

In just a few days' time, the championship will get underway at Losail, not the best track for the Honda but the Spaniard definitely has a better hand of cards this time around.

"We come into this season better than last season, but this does not mean that the result will be better - he explains - What is true is that we have prepared well. Physically I am at 100% and mentally I am also very motivated, as always, to try to fight for the title for another year."

How has the pre-season gone for you?
"On a technical level I always want more; everything’s never perfect and we always want to be better. Seeing how we were when we started the preseason, I think we have reached an optimum level to fight for the podium from the first races."

Has the bike changed significantly since Valencia?
"It has changed a lot and in different ways. Above all we have worked a lot on electronics, because the engine is different this year and we have had to adapt many things. We have also worked hard to have a solid base for all circuits, because on a race weekend we do not have much time to test things out"

Do you feel ready to fight for the win in Qatar?
“We'll see. We have all the Grand Prix weekend to finish preparing things, but we are starting out at one of the circuits that we have found more difficult, and that is perhaps less favourable for the characteristics of our bike. However, we do not have to rule anything out and we will start with maximum motivation and ambition to see if we can fight for victory from the beginning."

Last year we saw 9 different race winners, what do you expect this season?
More or less the same rivals as every year. Rossi, Viñales and Pedrosawho has had a very consistent preseason. We’ll see with Lorenzo, because he can have good races and the mystery is whether he can be fighting for the podium every Sunday, which will indicate if he can aspire to win the World Championship."

It's your fifth MotoGP season, do you feel like a veteran?
"Everything happens very quickly, but I don’t consider myself a veteran, because there are riders with double or triple my experience –as is the case with Valentino. It’s true that I have one more year of experience under my belt, and we will try to use it well. In the end each year is different; you encounter new situations and you have to adapt as best as possible."

What Marquez will we see this season?
"As I always say, it depends on every situation. If I am ready, I will give one hundred percent. If not, we will try to handle things in the best possible way. One of the lessons I learned in 2015 and used in 2016 is consistency, although there are times in the season where you have to take a little more risk.”

Translated by Heather Watson
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