Alex Marquez brought home another 2nd place from Mugello, like yesterday in the Sprint, and like many other times this year. Marc won with a gap, and the younger of the brothers first managed Bagnaia and then an aggressive Di Giannantonio, who came through right at the end. The defeat doesn't sting too much for the Team Gresini rider, who knows that he did his best against the worst opponent he could've found.
"I'm very happy with this second place. For me, it's important to do my best and not make mistakes," he explained. "I had a good start, and I didn't want to get into the fight between Marc and Pecco. I preferred to save tires and energy."
But his strategy soon changed.
"I saw that the pace was slow. Bagnaia made a mistake that e first corner, and I said to myself 'I'll try'," he continued. "I tried to impose my pace, even at the cost of paying for it at the end. It was the right choice, but Marc was faster than me. Before I got to Mugello, I knew I had a good chance on this track to gain points but, instead, Marc was better than me, and I was better than Pecco."
So now he's 40 points behind his brother and 70 ahead of Bagnaia. The two brothers, according to Acosta, are doing a different kind of job. From Pecco onward is where the normal riders start.
"I thank Pedro for the compliment, but I consider myself the same way I always have," Alex said. "I'm just trying to do my job, and give my one hundred percent."
Even if sometimes it's not enough.
"I'm fighting for the championship with a rider like Marc. Let's not forget he's in an official team with an official bike and then ... he's Marc," he emphasized. "My strong point has to be consistency, not making mistakes. Some people say I don't attack him like I would another rider, but the point is that, to attack, you have to be faster than who you attack, otherwise you can't. I'll keep trying every weekend."
He also tries to stay out of trouble. Today he took a chance when Pecco and Marc touched.
"Like I said, I wanted to stay out of it, because it wasn't my fight, but I was very close to them, and it was risky. I didn't expect that contact, and when I saw Pecco suddenly slow down, I managed to straighten the bike and pass him," Alex concluded.