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Never before have two brothers stood together on higher steps of the podium in the MotoGP. Marc and Alex Marquez did it in Thailand, first in the Sprint and then in the GP. A celebration also broke out in the parc ferme, with the Gresini team that had welcomed Marc last year. The champion from Cervera left Gresini to wear the red of the factory team, but their relationship is still going strong.
Team Manager Michele Masini immediately went to congratulate his former rider: "What did I say him? That he's wonderful. I had already experienced the excitement of being on the podium with both of them last year at the Sachsenring, and we expected this result here. It's a great joy. Marc is also very happy for us and for his brother. A really strong relationship was created between our two families."
Losing to Marc who's in such good shape is no disgrace.
"I'm very happy, especially because we confirmed the speed we've had all winter and, to do it with two second places, in these extreme conditions, is fantastic. I'm very happy, and these results really psych us up," Masini commented.
Alex led the race for a long time, aided by his brother's front tire pressure problem, but it was clear in the pits that winning would be difficult.
"We knew from the data that Marc had a couple of tenths more. We knew that he needed to stay behind," Michele explained "I knew that he'd attack at the end. The important thing is that Alex didn't make mistakes as long as he was up in front, and he didn't let Pecco catch him. It was a masterpiece."
The youngest of the Marquez brothers seems to have taken that step forward in the winter that he had been lacking.
"He has more personal serenity and gained sporting maturity during last season, which was difficult and complicated," Gresini's team manager recalled, "He came out great by working a lot on himself, and we already saw the results in the tests. Knowing that he's grown, and the fact that he's with the same team for the third consecutive year, helps. The bike brings out some of his strengths. We're complete."
Pramac proved that even satellite teams can dream big.
"I'm very proud. Our goal is to always do the best we can, put as many bikes behind us as possible. It's also the result of being in the third year of collaboration with Ducati. Its a mechanism that works very well. I thank them for their support," Masini concluded.
