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On the top step of the podium Marc Marquez dances to the rhythm of techno music in celebration. It is the same rhythm - precise and haunting - that he beat on the Aragon track. In three days at Aragon, he did not commit the slightest mistake; he was simply flawless. It is what was needed to break a 1,043-day winless drought that finally ended today with his 60th MotoGP victory.
The Spaniard knew he held all the cards, but between saying and doing there were 24 laps to write history. "Tonight between rain and responsibility I struggled to sleep - Marc laughs - I knew I had a great opportunity and I took advantage of it from start to finish. The mind was going a thousand places, I had to keep my concentration, but this year I celebrated more for podiums than for this victory, however, the emotion today is different."
Can you explain?
"It was a 'slow' win, I could see it coming and it was hard to keep my concentration in the last 5 laps of the race. I thought all about what I had been through during this difficult time with my family, with my brother, with my girlfriend, with my co-workers, with Team Gresini. In the last 3 laps my mind was already on the podium, or rather in the box where there is always celebration (laughs). More than adrenaline, I felt a lot of emotions today."
Is the taste different?
"In 2019 a win was worth nothing, now so much, it gives excitement and determination. I do everything to be competitive and it is a satisfaction to succeed. After a thousand days you forget what winning means, my body still hasn't figured it out (laughs). I have been looking for this success so much, last year I bet everything. I wasn't obsessed with winning, but I was hungry to get it and that's what allowed me to never give up."
It has been a long road.
"I was calm because I had already seen victory very close this year, both in Austin and in Germany. After Austria I came here with a lot of confidence, I knew it would come sooner or later because Martin and Pecco could not hold the same level for 20 GPs. However, this was a special weekend because of the track conditions and we need to keep working."
What changes now?
"Your questions, because you will no longer ask me when I will win! (laughs).Joking aside, nothing will change, I try to give my best, to always be on the podium and maybe still fight for victory."
What do you remember about this GP?
"It was a perfect weekend, I was not first only in the warm up because I decided to stay in the box. I had great feelings from the beginning, but it was hard to control the emotions. When I took the checkered flag I felt I had lost 3 or 4 pounds. I thought about the whole process that brought me here, the people around me who helped me. I approached this season like I was a rookie, and now it's time to keep it up."
What is the significance of this victory?
"It was very difficult to understand the track conditions, but it is a strength of mine and it helped me to have this margin. I controlled the situation well, by the middle of the race Martin had reduced the lead and I immediately set the fastest lap. The next goal is to find consistency which is the most difficult thing. As I said, it was a perfect weekend, with very good feelings, but I have to be realistic and I know there were special conditions. For me the GP in Austria was more important, I won here and it has a very high value, but now I have to see if I will find consistency."
Is the pressure gone?
"I put some on myself today. Yesterday, after the Sprint win, I wasn't enjoying it because I knew I had a big opportunity today, so I tried to stay focused. When you are fast, you can manage, but you remain the same rider. We'll see if in the next races I can still fight."
In your personal ranking, where do you put this victory?
"Very high up, along with the one in 2021 at Sachsenring after my injury, my first in MotoGP in Austin in 2013. These are wins that give a lot of confidence, it's been a long time since I felt this good. The laps felt short, I was just focused on not making mistakes."
When did you know you were coming back?
"At the Valencia test last year, when I had tried the Ducati for the first time. I realized that it would be my opportunity. It's one thing to fight for the championship, I still have to work for that, but otherwise I knew I could do it. I was in no hurry and I was calm."
You gave up a lot by getting back into the game.
"I had bad moments, I even thought about retiring, when you are in that situation the people around you help you most of all. We suffered together and now we celebrate together. I gave up a lot, my team, my friends and I struggled. I know I have to work harder than before, but I am willing to do it."
Can you think about the title?
"No, I'm too far away. I lost a lot of points and there are two riders ahead of me with more consistency. A good weekend helps, but it doesn't change your life. Finishing in the top 3 in the championship is realistic. There are still so many points to be awarded and so many things that can happen, you never know, but the most important thing is to have fun."
Do you now feel the Ducati is completely your own?
"A few GPs ago I started to ride more naturally, I started to understand the rear tire better, but now I want to see at other tracks if I can still improve. We used to look so much at the riders' data with the GP24, but they are different bikes and I have to ride with my own setup, have confidence and use instinct."
What do you think about the crash between your brother Alex and Bagnaia?
"It was a bad crash, luckily they are okay. Alex did not expect to find Bagnaia at that point and Pecco was optimistic to pass him on the outside. I think it was an unfortunate situation."
