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Marc Marquez has won his bet. A year ago he decided to leave Honda to get back into the game in a satellite team, Team Gresini, and today he can say he made the right choice. The Barcelona GP will be his last weekend in blue before switching to Ducati red.
"Last night we had a very emotional dinner," says Marc, "In just one year, Gresini has become a super important team in my career. I found the perfect atmosphere to be reborn, as they wrote on social, to feel competitive again, a family, with my brother by my side. The best way to thank them will be to have a good weekend in this last GP and try to finish in the best possible way. As I told them last night, never say never, you never know what can happen in the future because they are a very professional team with whom you can obtain what you want."
What did this 2024 mean for you?
"It was a year that I had not found myself in my sporting career and I hope not to find myself again, but it may happen. It was a year of looking for answers because I had a lot of questions in my head, the main one was 'am I still competitive enough to be in MotoGP'? So that was yes, I'm still competitive but logically it will be impossible to be the dominator like in 2019 because life happens for all of us who are here. We will try to keep that line as flat as posisble and stay competitive."
Everyone expects you to win....
"There are people saying that this year too, next year we'll see. I know I will have a winning bike and a winning team, but I don't have to prove anything except to be competitive. Logically I will aim for the title, because in an official team you have to do it."
What, on the other hand, is it like being in a private team?
"Being in a satellite team reminded me what a passion for motorcycles is. In Honda I had my friends, good personal relationships, but in an official team everything is a little more serious. In Gresini, everything is more familiar and it reminded me a little bit, although with differences, when I was in Moto2. Here you can talk directly with the boss, with Nadia, with whoever makes the decisions. The most important thing is that they have a good bike and this allows you to get great results, as I did this year and other riders before me in the past."
Senna had promised to race his last season with Minardi, could you do the same with Gresini?
"I can't answer that because a year ago I was thinking about retiring and now it doesn't even cross my mind. I don't know what will happen in the future, but I've learned that you always have to keep an open door."
Third place in the championship is at stake, how much do you care?
"Believe me, but it doesn't matter. I don't even have any bonuses, maybe Enea does (laughs). Who remembers who finished third in 2022? Or in 2015? It was me, but no one remembers (laughs). A third place doesn't change my life, the goals I achieved this season did. In the last few races I realized I had the speed and decided to take more risks to see what would happen, but I went too far and crashed in two races in a row. It is more important for the team than for me to finish the year well, because I have already achieved the goals I set for myself."
Who will win the World Championship?
"I say Martin because he is the safest bet, but anything can happen in MotoGP. For me Jorge can only lose it and Pecco can only win it. Martin can do different strategies, Bagnaia only one."
What kind of rider is Bagnaia?
"I read people questioning him, but a rider who wins two titles in a row is not a good champion, but an incredible champion. Already not everyone can win a World Championship in MotoGP, you have to be talented, but doubts can remain. However, when you win two in a row and play for the third at the last race, it means you are a great champion. Next year I will try to learn from him because he knows the bike and the team well, he will be my reference."
Some say he is not a character.
"A champion is built on the track, outside everyone has his own personality, which may please some and others not, it applies to me as it does to Pecco. When you are fast and you win, then you have the power to do what you want."
He and Martin have been a step ahead of everyone this year.
"When someone is faster than you, that motivates you to catch up with them. I remember there were people who ar Le Mans, Mugello and Montmelo who said I would fight for the title and I said I'd like to say yes, but the reality was no. Because I could see their speed, here I had finished third, but 10 seconds behind them. When you are fast you can strategize, if you are not, you can be the smartest of all, but the plan will not work. We'll see if next year I can be closer to Pecco's level."
Are you already thinking about testing on Tuesday?
"Moving to an official team is always good. The responsibility does not change for me, I will try to manage everything in the best way. Tuesday will be a test day, but the real start will be in February."
