English
Italiano
Marc Marquez is experiencing his first WDW as a rider for the Borgo Panigale factory, and given the enormous affection he is picking up from the public during these three days of passion at Misano, he also seems to be having a great time on this new adventure in contact with the Ducati people .
We had a chance to chat with Marc just on the morning before the Race of Champions, a race that will be taken seriously by all the riders, despite the fact that they all say they want to take it easy. Everyone talks about riders, about champions...but when they put the visor down you just have to win.
Did you expect a celebration like this?
"I had been told by Tardozzi and also Domenicali, as well as Gigi. They had told me that only here at WDW do you feel what Ducati is and what it means to be a Ducatista. It's beautiful, the spirit of the people, the welcome they gave me I like so much and that makes me happy."
Earlier we saw you singing with the box and the fans, in short you're having a good time too.
"People here are for the party, there is no pressure. Yes, today is the race, but it's a fun thing, there's not the tension of a race weekend. It also serves to celebrate with the people, because if they are here and having fun, you can't be the serious guy and not be in line with them."
This WDW couldn't have come at a better time for you.
"Two years ago it wouldn't have been the same. This year I've found myself and Team Gresini has helped me so much to find myself and slowly gain confidence. When you're on the track and you're fighting and then a tough blow comes like at Sachsenring, it's not easy. But it's a risk that's part of our job. Also we are working very well in the box, having a future that is clear helps a lot. I'm happy, it's a good period."
Yesterday you lapped very strong with the Panigale and someone in the Ducati box was joking saying 'that's why we got Marc.'
"I am living these two days as if it was a test, a training session also for Silverstone. But logically the real benchmarks are those who ride here a lot, like the VR46 guys who ride here often with the Panigale. I am not that used to this kind of bike. I had tried the old one only one day in Portimao, but I have to say that I really liked the Panigale V4 2025 and I think I will ask for one to train on next year. Yesterday I had fun, today I will do the same."
Maybe you will come here to train with Pecco and the Panigale in the future.
"Why not, if they organize a track day, a test or whatever from Ducati, why not? At the end of the day, we have already ridden together in Portimao in February and I think we will also do it in early 2025, to be 100 percent with MotoGP, which is the most important thing."
Between now and the end of the year on which track do you think you can win your first race with Ducati?
"If we look at my history, it can be Aragon, Phillip Island, Valencia. Tracks where you turn left, where I'm usually stronger. But actually this year the track where I was closest to winning was Jerez and also Le Mans, which are two tracks where I always did well, but I never did anything exaggerated. So it's not easy, also because for example at Sachsenring, where I thought I could do very well, already on Friday we were suffering. However, I will try to do 100 percent always. In these last three races both Pecco and Martìn have taken a step forward and as difficult as it is, I will try to finish it."
More tiring WDW or a race weekend?
"No, that's easy: a race weekend! WDW is fun. Usually riders like to ride motorcycles, but they don't like events. But when it comes to WDW, with these bikes, these people, with this passion, the hours of the day go by quicker and you have more fun."
With Ducati you can also ride the V2 or the V4, kind of like when with Honda you used the 600 or the 1000.
"I actually only rode three or four days a year with the 600. I actually before 2020 had never tried a 600 or a 1000. I had only lapped with MotoGP, motocross or flat track. But with the injury I had I had to work a little bit on new things, riding position, muscles. So sometimes it helped me to ride both 600 and 1000. I think I will ask for the V4, this new one then...yesterday I lapped in 1'35, never lapped a road bike so fast in Misano."
The 2025 world championship will be a little different, many riders change bikes, Ducati loses Pramac. Will it change much in your opinion?
"The way the last few years have gone, I would say that Ducati's only goal will remain to do first and second in the world championship. Just also look at how aerodynamic development continues on both the 2023 and 2024 bikes for Ducati. We have the best bike, but the human factor is also key, because everything works very well here. Let's try in the meantime to finish 2024 well, then see what happens in early 2025. Today Aprilia and KTM, which are the two bikes perhaps closest to us, have improved. But we will still try to do a good job."
Ciabatti said a dream of Ducati would be to race the Suzuka 8 Hours with MotoGP riders. Do you like the idea?
"Honda has asked me many times, but honestly the way a championship program is today, if you want to fight for a world championship in MotoGP, you have to be totally focused only on that. If maybe in the world championship you are further behind and you want to go for fun okay. But the summer break is needed for a rider, you need to relax. We are human, with 22 races between Sprint and GP...."
Are there any Ducatis you've noticed these days that you'd like back home?
"I really like the V4 because at the end of the day it's like a MotoGP. But I also really like the Scrambler, I think I'll ask for one for the city!"
But what happened to your lip, does it look swollen?
"A trifle, I had a little ball of fat that could become a problem over time, so I preferred to have surgery for a moment to remove it. But no problem."
