At 24 years old, Álex Márquez has already won two World Champion titles, one in Moto3 in 2014 with 4 victories in 46 participations, then in Moto2 last year with 8 victories in 89 Grands Prix in this category. He has progressed steadily since his debut at Jerez in 2012, which has now earned him the benefit of a factory Honda in MotoGP, alongside the exceptional advisor his brother.
First of all, which of his two world titles was more important for álex ? " Draw. I can't say which one is more special. The first one was very special, but the second one you appreciate more. It comes from a few years that weren't easy, so I appreciate it a lot more. In 2014, at 18, you're not so aware of what you've accomplished” explained Marc Márquez's younger brother while recently commenting on the 2019 Malaysian GP – when he was crowned in Moto2 – for DAZN.
On November 3, at the Sepang circuit, Álex started from pole position in the penultimate race of the year to attempt to win the title before the final round in Valencia. It was his sixth pole position of the year. “Saturdays were very important that year. In Moto2 they were the key, I only failed in Austria. Starting from behind makes you make more mistakes. »
To leave the Malaysian GP with the Champion title, Márquez was only able to lose 3 points against Lüthi, 7 facing Binder and 18 facing NAVARRO. “I was nervous in case I didn't finish. I had just finished a few races that didn't quite work out, but Malaysia is a track I love and am good at. I had this uncertainty, but when we play the title, the stakes are different. »
For Álex Márquez, one of the keys to this 2019 season has been the good adaptation to the tires during the pre-season. “During the pre-season, during the IRTA tests in Jerez, they brought us few tires, very soft and people used them to do a fast lap. But we didn't do it. We used them to work when the tire wore out. We knew that from Jerez it would be this tire, so we tried to get the most out of it. We were the smartest to adapt to the new tire. »
Márquez renewed for another year with the Marc VDS team in Moto2 mid-season, but the departure of Jorge Lorenzo of the Repsol Honda team, and his Moto2 title opened the door to the premier category. “ Everything has changed and it's true that after Valencia, on Sunday evening, I didn't know what was going to happen. It was complicated to manage, because the fans in Valencia took my time in MotoGP for granted, but I didn't know anything. »
“I was the Moto2 World Champion, Honda needed a rider and they called me. There is nothing else, there is nothing strange. I'm at peace because I did my job on the track and I earned a place in the Repsol Honda team today. »
“Marc has always protected me. Marc has accustomed us to winning eight titles, to so many victories, to saving dangerous situations... to everything he does, because he is exceptional. He makes people see it as normal, even though it's something that costs a lot to do. I try to focus on my own thing, people who understand that know what it takes to win a title. »
“I'm not worried, because everything I've done has cost me more or less, but I've managed to do it through hard work. And I believe in this, because talent without work is useless. This is my daily life, working hard, improving and arriving at the races calmly, knowing that I couldn't do more because I gave 100%. »
The next dream on Álex Márquez's list is to win in MotoGP. “It is clear that being Champion in MotoGP is the last step, surely the most difficult. »
“To win in MotoGP you need many factors to come into play, if you're not Marc Márquez, of course. This is my dream, I want to work, get a place on the grid and gain the experience necessary to be able to fight one day. »
“A normal season is ultimately very long, and at the end of the year a top 8 in the Championship would be a good result. My dream would be to make a podium on one of those weekends where the conditions are different or to have a good day, that would be great. »
Photos © Repsol Media, Marc VDS
