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Having gotten back on a competitive bike, Marc Marquez is himself again. Fourth in the overall standings, with 179 points compared to Jorge Martin's 241, the Spanish rider has alternated between his inevitable falls and his outstanding performances, to the extent that he's earned his promotion to the factory Ducati for 2025. Having climbed the podium several times despite his lack of experience on the Desmosedici, a victory is his next goal.
"If I had to give myself a grade, I'd say an eight, even if I made a few mistakes," he told Marca. "Beyond that, I'm happy, because I've adapted well to the new bike, and I've also created a good connection with the team.
After years of militancy in Honda for the champion from Cervera, moving to Gresini Racing in 2024 was something of a leap of faith. "It's a family-run team. Very different from a factory. The material is what it is, and you have to work with what's made available to you, but being competitive is possible," he reflected.
The challenge is also about the imposed riding style, which is very different from what he was used to with the RC213V. "In qualifying, I continue to struggle because the way to get a good time is different. Here, you have to use the rear a lot more," he admitted.
Lending him a hand in this complex task of adapting is his brother and garage mate Alex. "He's the most important person in my life, and he's the one who did everything to convince me to change brands," he confessed. "I had other options, but Gresini was the only team that didn't put pressure on me and waited for me to decide."
In spite of his cockiness, which has often led him to take more risks than necessary, the rider from Spain revealed that he looks with distrust at extreme sports, such as the Tourist Trophy, held every year on the Isle of Man: "I really respect what they do, but when I see their videos on You Tube or Instagram, I feel something in my stomach. I wouldn't be able to do what those guys do. They risk their lives for the slightest mistake. It's unbelievable, but I can't even watch an entire lap."
With this in mind, the 31-year-old doesn't even seem persuaded by the idea of taking part in the Suzuka 8 Hours, so coveted by his future garage mate, Bagnaia. "I'm not sure I'd want to do it. We already have so many races in the MotoGP. Plus, there are many people there and at different levels. That could give rise to sudden contacts and falls, something that scares me a bit. For now, I'm not motivated, but who knows in five years or when I retire," he concluded, with a glimpse into the distant future.
