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Marc Marquez smiles on the podium and in the press conference, points to the sky, dedicates his thanks to the Gresini family, Fausto in primis from which it all began, authors of his sporting rebirth together with Ducati. For the second consecutive time back from a victory that wash away , like the raindrops that fell on the Misano track today , the more than 1000 days of absence from the positions that count for a rider, those on the podium.
The weekend had started with some difficulties,the pace was there but the misstep in qualifying relegated him 9th on the grid. Nothing new, Marc this season had already accustomed his fans and insiders to great comebacks like at Le Mans, but doing it in Misano in the Italians' backyard would have been another story. The start was good, but it was on the seventh lap that providential help from heaven extended a hand to him, Marc will tell reporters that "it was Fausto sending four drops to a boy," although of that boy in 2019 Marc is beginning to see very little again. In the body, as evidenced by the scars on his arm, and in the mind, that of someone who in order to return to winning has gone through hell and put his whole self on the line.
In just one lap Marc from 5th takes the lead in the race, "you have to take risks, I had nothing to lose," the Spaniard will admit. The rest is already history, the multiple Spanish champion wins his second consecutive race after holding off defending champion Bagnaia, second at the checkered flag. The standings are updated, Pecco wipes out much of Martin's lead, Marc comes closer and is 53 points behind his compatriot. We head into the championship finale and everything is still wide open.
"I knew during the weekend that I had a good race pace compared to the frontrunners - Marc began - but starting from ninth position, both for me as well as for Enea was very penalizing, especially in the first laps. Then when the first drops of rain started to fall on the track, there I decided to take risks and in one lap I took the lead in the race. At that point I realized that I had to maintain the position. But the biggest surprise for me was the second half of the race, I had a very good pace, I was entering the corners very smoothly. I was losing something where I had lost even in free practice, I was gaining something where I knew I could gain, but the overall feeling was fantastic. This victory is also very important for the Gresini team, their family, and I want to dedicate it as a tribute in particular to Fausto Gresini."
You were always able to adapt to the track conditions, when you saw Martin come into the pits, did the idea of following him cross your mind?
"Martin's strategy was not crazy, because if it had continued to rain with the same intensity on that lap his choice would have paid off. In my case I thought it was better to follow the rider who has more experience here (Bagnaia ed.), and he stayed on the track, they definitely know more than me! - jokes the Spaniard - if the Italians stay on the track, so do I."
When the rain started to fall, who knows what expression you had in your helmet.
"After the mistake in qualifying, the rain was the only chance to straighten out the race. As we saw in the first laps, both Enea and I were in trouble in the first few laps, in the first three laps Pecco and Martin had already distanced themselves. I took the opportunity, I had nothing to lose and this time it went the right way. When I said I followed the local rider I wasn't kidding, Morbidelli crashed at 1, racing with the track in these conditions is not easy. Sometimes you have to take risks, in the past it happened to me to fall with slicks in the same conditions."
In Aragon your victory came after a long wait, and at that circuit you had dominated the weekend. How does it feel to have won here in Misano?
"Last week's win was a long time coming for me, I needed some time to assimilate it. This one is important for different reasons, it was a weekend in normal conditions with a very different grip and I always remained competitive. This is perhaps the most important aspect for the near future, as I always say to win a championship you have to work on the details and on avoiding mistakes like a start from 9th place. We cannot wait for it to rain every Sunday. I think today Fausto from heaven said 'four drops for the boy,' and the not-so-boy took advantage of that."
What is the difference between the Marc Marquez who won today and the one who won in 2019, physically and mentally?
"Physically it's worse, of course now I can fight again on the track but I also have to prepare better at home. Mentally on the other hand I'm starting to feel stronger and stronger, especially after weekends like Red Bull Ring or Aragon, I have more and more confidence on the bike. Aragon has always been a good circuit for me, but to take the lead here in Misano, to distance myself from my opponents ... sometimes you forget these feelings and today I found them again."
There are still many points available in the championship. After your victory last weekend about your chances in view of the championship you were cautious. What are your chances now?
"More than last week" - jokes the Spaniard - "the mentality is still the same, if I want to fight at the top I have to avoid making mistakes, but the confidence continues to increase. Then it is clear that anything can happen in the race, there are still several races left so anything is possible."
There has been a lot of talk about radio communications as in F1, something that perhaps would have been useful, what do you think?
"In today's specific case, I think it still has to be the driver who decides. It's impossible for the team to know better than the driver what condition the track is in, especially from dry to wet. In the opposite case maybe it would have its usefulness because it could tell us data about the opponents that we don't have. Overall I think for the show I would be in favor, but for the essence of the sport I am not, although it is true that we are here for the show and for the people at home it would be interesting."
There has been a lot of talk this year about the gap between GP23 and GP24.
"At the beginning of the season we were closer, then we struggled more. This was my first year on the Ducati, the first year with the new technicians and the new team, so it's normal that there are times when it takes longer to adapt and find the right direction. We found a setup that works and little by little the feeling improved, then in SIlverstone we made a big change and now we are closer."
When was the last time you felt so good and so consistent on the bike?
"The period between 2019 and 2021 was not so bad, especially at circuits like Aragon Austin and Misano. In normal conditions like this weekend I felt again the freedom to move on the bike as I want, the weak points remain, especially in turn 11 where Pecco is so fast. I know I won't be as fast as him in that sector but I will try to get closer ahead of next weekend. There are still margins but the more confidence improves the more you can play and get fast."
Now you have already raced many races on a Ducati. Has your riding style naturally adapted to the new bike or do you have to focus and still occasionally revert to the style that distinguished you on the Honda?
"In some corners you looked like you were on the Honda" - jokes Bagnaia, today second behind his future teammate - "no better" - the Spaniard laughs about it - "it's true, in some corners like in Austria I still don't have that confidence but now in this moment of the championship I keep improving, I'm riding with the same fluency I used to ride the Honda, with my riding style. I still lose something, but less and less."
@Ph. Pier Luca Brunetti
Automatic Translation by DeepL
