The Italian press, in this case Motorcycle racing, reports an extract from an interview given to Gazetta dello Sport by Marc Marquez.
Our transalpine colleagues have chosen to focus their article on the fact that the Honda pilot said “in pure speed, on one lap, I think Vinales is stronger (than Rossi)”.
Obviously, the sentence is important because it is not usual for a pilot to prioritize his opponents. We could even wonder if this is not intentional, with the aim of putting a little acidity into the current good understanding of the Vinales-Rossi duo... a strategy worthy of the Doctor himself.
But once this question is asked, the interview turns out to be rich and interesting because Marc Marquez answers no fewer than 19 questions asked by Paolo Ianiari, a good selection of which we report here.
In 2016, you changed the way you managed races to become more calculating. Which Marc Marquez will we see this year?
“It will depend on the weapon at my disposal. If I have a weapon to go on the attack, if I feel good, then I can always fight for victory. But if after the last test I still had doubts about the bike, I would be forced to manage, to do like last year. But 2016 was also difficult; I fell a lot, and during the fights in the race, I was lucky. It's true that you provoke luck, but I admit that I had some, I wasn't always the strongest. »
And this year, what weapon will you have at your disposal?
“It's too early, it's the first test and on the track where we struggle the most. We are not yet comfortable, although we have improved a little. But we didn't manage to do all the work we wanted to. Today (Wednesday) I only alternated between two completely different bikes and that helped me understand a lot of things. One of the two bikes is almost at the limit, the other seems to have more potential. In Japan, they will have to work a lot on the electronics, because in the saddle, strange things still happen. »
At Sepang, the Japanese technicians brought in a new engine, but it seemed to have too much power. Do you confirm it?
“We will analyze the data, but he is not too powerful, and some of our opponents have more power than us. But the point is to work on torque, power delivery when exiting corners, anti-slip, acceleration. I hope something will be done for the Phillip Island test, but I think even then we won't be at a good level. But we will have to leave Australia having solved the main problem. »
And the chassis? Are you still using the one from 2014?
“I have one to try, but we’re taking it one step at a time.” »
How is it possible that Honda, in 4 years, has not managed to make a chassis that satisfies you?
“I've tried three or four different ones but I always come back to this one because I'm comfortable with it.
With the 2015 one, it was possible to go harder in the corners, but I didn't understand the limit and I fell. And I wanted a frame that gave me confidence in the curves. “That’s the mistake I made here at the tests in 2015.”
Everyone is waiting for the battle between Marquez and Vinales.
“I think he is ready to fight for the championship. And to win. Him and Valentino. Or Pedrosa. Lorenzo is tired, but these are the first days. However, I think the two Yamahas will be the hardest to beat in the championship. »
Between Rossi and Vinales, who will be the most dangerous?
“Maverick is getting stronger, more comfortable with the Yamaha and proclaiming it. But when the races start, everything will be different. I don't know who will be the most dangerous. Valentino has more experience and every Sunday you find that he is there, although in pure speed, on one lap, I see Maverick stronger.”
Will their harmony last?
“It depends on the role of each person in the team. If I hope they will quarrel? Yes and no, because if you argue with someone, they end up going faster to try to beat you up. Because in the end the first rule of this world is to beat your teammate. »
You have won three MotoGP World Championships in four years. Are you getting used to it?
" No. If you had asked me in December, I would have told you that I was World Champion, but today when I look at the rankings, I know that I just have to work. 2016 is already far away in my thoughts.”
