Italian Grand Prix, Mugello, MotoGP: Marc Márquez arrives on enemy territory

This weekend, it's the route of the Mugello which will attract the attention of motorcycle Grand Prix enthusiasts. The site will in fact be the scene of the sixth of the nineteen rounds planned on the calendar for this 2019 season, for an Italian Grand Prix which promises to be merciless. Indeed, Ducati, on its lands, will be keen to thwart the rise in power of a Marc Márquez to already three victories in five races. But in Tuscany, the official Honda has only triumphed once, in 2014…

The public will only have eyes for its Italian machines and its compatriot drivers. Moreover, Marc Márquez, has only celebrated two podiums in MotoGP at Mugello. Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and the local hero Valentino Rossi being at the top of the statistics, we can consider this sixth round of the season as a delicate stage for the Honda official.

However, it is as leader of the world championship that he goes to Italy at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello. Only twice has he been on the MotoGP podium, most recently in 2016 in second place. In 2014, he celebrated his only Grand Prix victory in the premier category of the circuit located 30 km northeast of Florence, in addition to two successes in the 125cc and Moto2 categories (2010 and 2011).

« Mugello is a track where we struggle. Last year we weren't far away though. But I made a mistake. We have to wait and see what happens this year ", said Márquez. The previous year, he had crossed the finish line after a fall in 16th position, while Ducati, with Jorge Lorenzo et Andrea Dovizioso, celebrated a double victory.”

“Dovi”, who is currently eight points behind the reigning World Champion, has already reached the podium five times in the premier category, including a victory in 2017.  Lorenzo popped the champagne nine times and Valentino Rossi on eleven occasions. The Mallorcan has won six times, while the Doctor won seven consecutive victories from 2002 to 2008.

On paper, this Mugello promises to be difficult for Márquez. However, he knows that statistics is not an exact science. The same gave him the Austin stage as a given and we know what happened. Likewise, this year, the Honda engine seems able to respond in a straight line to the cavalry of Borgo Panigale... " It's a track I've never had the best result on, but I like it. This is the most important thing » finished the teammate Jorge Lorenzo.