Let's talk MotoGP: Marc Marquez has just proven Ducati right

Marc Marquez is not ready to give up his magician's cape; at the Sachsenring, he may have just proven Ducati right. His weekend in Germany was whole, complete, stamped Marquez. Throughout the long history of the motorcycling world championship, only he is capable of bringing this range of emotions to life on the scale of a Grand Prix.

 

From the great Marquez

 

Where to start. From his two falls on Friday to his podium on Sunday, we had it all. The worried Marquez, conquering, but clean, too. A screenwriter could not have written three days that reflected his greatness to this extent. For me, it's one of the best Grand Prix of his career, quite simply.

Firstly, because he played the three most important sessions while injured. His freak fall on Friday afternoon left him with severe bruising to his ribs and a broken index finger.. Once again, he found himself in Q1 – a point to which we will return, and unable to progress to Q2. Perhaps because of Stefan Bradl, stopped on the trajectory when the eight-time world champion arrived.

 

 

During the Sprint, he made a very honorable comeback from 13th position to sixth, but he has accustomed us to this kind of exploits since the start of this season. And finally, on Sunday, the completion of a work of art, with a second place acquired in the last moments, just ahead of his brother. Magnificent.

I was surprised by his cleanliness, helped by his love for the Sachsenring and the obvious ease with which he moves on its slopes. He did not force an overtake, never got hot despite two big contacts. One with Brad Binder at lights out, and the other, much more dangerous, with Franco Morbidelli. I also think that the Italian was in the wrong on this one.

It was from the great Marc Marquez. We can only congratulate him, and even if it is “only” a second place, I think it is more beautiful than many of his victories. Once again if one were needed, he ridicules the adage according to which “history only remembers the winners”.

 

 

A major problem

 

Let's take a quick look at his start to the season, given that we are – almost – halfway through this 2024 financial year. He did not achieve a 12th victory at the Sachsenring, indeed, and this could be due to this famous Q1 . I expected anything but this, but qualifying is a problem for Marc Marquez, even though he is the best in history in this area.

As a reminder, he managed to achieve a pole last year aboard a Honda RC213V which he knew well, of course, but whose performance was in no way comparable to the Ducati and other KTMs. By signing with Gresini, I expected that Saturday would be his day, that his natural speed would finally be able to express itself freely after four years of struggles. Nothing works.

Certainly, the GP23 is further from the GP24 than the GP22 was from the GP23, but he cannot afford these successive eliminations in Q1 which condemn him to the feat during the two races. Therefore, he has to take more risks, and cannot dream of catching Pecco Bagnaia in his current form in this way. Remember that Marquez finished second, four seconds behind, that's huge. This is the only point he really lacks, but it remains a good first half of the season.

 

 

It is not surprising or exceptional, because I think that any informed spectator could anticipate his exploits now that he is equipped with a very good machine. I expected it to be a little faster, more explosive, like at the Sachsenring in the end, but also, more often on the ground and less solid, less consistent in its performance.. Everything has smoothed out and my pre-season predictions are proving correct so far.

 

Ducati bet on the right horse

 

I know that the culture of the moment should be avoided. I know that we should not only base ourselves on recent performances to judge a rider, and that Jorge Martin perfectly deserved this official Ducati handlebar. Yes, everyone knows. But let me ask you: Do you think the “Martinator” is capable of achieving what Marc Marquez did this Sunday, on any circuit? Without even talking about the injury or the equipment which is not the same. I don't think so, and that's why I said recently that no team can go wrong by signing Marc Marquez, that he is in no way a bad choice.

Jorge Martin is very strong, and passes nothing from a perfect weekend. But he is not Marc Marquez. From my point of view, he does not yet have the capacity to surpass himself, to challenge his own limits. While I will never stop fighting hasty conclusions, I think, paradoxically, that the Grand Prix of Germany legitimizes Ducati's decision. Marquez alone showed that we had to bet on him. It is this profile that makes the reputation of a team, this type of character who contributes to the impression left by a team in the story – and this will necessarily be felt on a commercial level, it goes hand in hand and it is normal for Ducati to think about this.

What did you think of Marc Marquez at the Sachsenring? Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport