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Marc Marquez returns home from Qatar with another full haul of points, pole and a double win, his third since the start of the season. The Spaniard thus sweetens the bitter aftertaste left by the Austin epilogue, also taking back the world championship lead. A result that was in part unexpected in a weekend in which the Martian perhaps expected to have to struggle more and perhaps race defensively. This was not the case, thanks to Bagnaia's bad qualifying and a series of contacts in the race that took out some of his most formidable opponents.
In the race the Spaniard changed direction, put aside the dominance shown in the first races and fought it out on strategy. He managed the tires and preserved the front, a contact with his brother Alex opened the door to an explosive Morbidelli, while from the rear Bagnaia also appeared. Contact between Alex and Di Giannantonio removed two of his biggest rivals from the equation and unexpectedly Marc found himself dueling with Vinales, "I thought it was Acosta," he would later say, and who tried to resist without success. Marc indulged in a hint of elation, "the most important weekend of the season," he commented to reporters with satisfaction, aware that in the European races his opponents will give everything to curb his dominance.
It's your first win here in Qatar since 2014, in an almost perfect weekend.
"I am really happy, especially for myself because this was the most important weekend of the season," Marc began, "Thailand, Argentina and Austin were good circuits for me, while here I knew I would have more difficulties. Riders like Alex, Pecco and Di Giannantonio and others would be competitive. We worked well during the weekend, I made a major step forward in the right-hand corners that made a difference. In the race I used a different strategy, I tried to manage the front tire in the first half of the race, even though I knew this would allow Pecco to get closer but I didn't care. I did that because it's something that in this circuit didn't allow me to race to my limits with my riding style where I push a lot right on the front. So I waited and when Pecco passed me I thought, "Now the race starts." I started to push harder and in the last seven laps when I passed Vinales I pushed to the limit on the front brake and in corner entry. I took full advantage of the front and that's where I made the difference."
You made contact with Alex and later a duel with Vinales.
"As for the contact with Alex it was more my mistake than his," the Spaniard pointed out, "when I opened the throttle I felt that the rear end was going on its own and I braked. He didn't expect it and touched me, which allowed Morbidelli to pass me on the outside. Fortunately for both of us we stayed on our bikes. Then when I saw a KTM coming over I thought it was Acosta, but when he passed me I realized it was Vinales. He was riding very well so I was trying to see where he was making a difference. The KTM also has its strengths so we will continue to work as well."
In the contact with Alex you lost an aerodynamic appendage.
"Yes, but it was the smaller wing on the tail, it didn't make any difference in riding."
Here in Qatar we saw another race that was spectacular and we saw a lot of overtaking, does it depend on the circuit?
"I'll be honest, it depends on the strategy of the fastest rider. If the fastest rider slows down the group compacts. On the other hand, if you push from the beginning in the race, the distances between the riders widen. Today I lowered the pace in those early laps and found myself many riders behind, I was doing my strategy. Today I was calm because all weekend I had been the fastest, which was unexpected for me here in Qatar."
What emotions are you feeling at the end of this weekend?
"I am experiencing a sweet moment. The key to this weekend was stepping up in the right-hand corners. This is something I have been trying to improve on little by little, and this has given me additional confidence as well as allowing me to ride in a different way. This was the circuit where I expected to suffer, in Austin which is my favorite circuit of the year I made a mistake, and this victory was the best way to respond to my rivals. I will try to keep my concentration, when things get difficult is when I feel in my best shape, while when they are easy I make stupid mistakes like it happened in Austin."
Next round Jerez, what expectations do you have?
"As a Spaniard I obviously have a lot of desire to do well, although the past years testify how competitive riders like Pecco can be there."
