The Honda driver was visibly happy as he appeared at this first post-race press conference of the 2016 season.
Happy with his position in the race, happy after a particularly difficult winter for Honda drivers, and happy with his Michelin tires which allow him to maintain his spectacular driving style.
We offer you here a translation of his entire remarks.
Marc Marquez: “We had a difficult winter and if, on Wednesday, you had told me that I was going to finish on the podium, I would have asked you where to sign. So we did a really good job with the team and we really worked really hard all weekend trying to find the best base and the best setup for the race. We knew that we were losing a lot in the last sector so we looked all weekend in which corner precisely in the last sector we were losing time and we found that it was the acceleration of the last corner. We lost a lot there, including during the race, and it was very difficult to overtake Dovi or the other drivers.
But I'm very happy with the work of Honda and my team because they gave 100% and I gave 100% on the track.
On a circuit where we were losing a second per lap two weeks ago, we were there today, finishing just two seconds behind Jorge, in third, so I'm happy to get back on the podium.
For me, choosing the tires was easy, because I completely destroyed the front Tender tire in three laps, and the rear Tender does not suit my riding style either since I force a lot when entering a corner to try to set a time . In addition, I can't finish the race with it, so I chose a Hard/Hard combination and as I saw, during the race, that Lorenzo and the Ducati had a soft at the rear, I thought they were perhaps going to collapse at the end of the race. But it was the opposite and they were faster in the last laps. »
How do you rate Michelin tires?
“Just like Lorenzo and Dovizioso said, I'm very happy with the tires. they did a very good job. It is normal that the first time you try new tires people start talking, but we must remember that for many years we have been adapting our motorcycles to Bridgestone tires. So now we have different tires, but after finding a good balance, we can see that the times during the race are very fast, very consistent, throughout the race. So I'm very happy that they did because I feel really good on the bike and I think everyone likes them as well. »
Can you explain to us what difference these tires make when entering and exiting corners?
“Personally, you could see it on the screens, I haven't really changed my driving style. I force a lot when entering a corner, then I slip, brake the same or even later than with the Bridgestones. Maybe there is a limit, but if I hadn't driven like that, I wouldn't have been able to stay with these drivers, so I haven't really changed my driving style. Maybe the loss of tire efficiency is different, and you have to understand that, but on a lap and in terms of driving, now that we understand what balance to adopt, it's the same thing. »
Do you think that you are reaping the fruits of your determination today in the face of the problems encountered this winter?
“As I said, we really work a lot and the winter was very difficult for us because, yes, when I saw on the rankings that I was 8th, 9th or 10th, a second and a half from the best, it's difficult for any pilot. And for me maybe a little more, and, honestly, I was a little worried. But we never gave up, and we worked hard because we knew we had many problems. The team worked a lot, Honda too from Japan, and we solved them. During the race, I honestly thought I would finish 4th, because the gap with Pedrosa was significant and I said to myself "ok, I finish 4th and we'll see in Argentina". Then I said to myself “ok, we are here, we have worked a lot to be here, and we are going to try to finish second”.
So during the race there were two approaches; one voice told me “you must finish the race” and the other “Marquez is back and must attack”. (laughs) »
