After winning the Moto3 World Championship in 2014, Alex Marquez competed in five consecutive seasons in Moto2 from 2015 to 2019. Some riders only stayed one season in Moto2, like Maverick Vinales ou fabio quartararo, before moving to MotoGP. For Álex, it took significantly longer.
“I had a bad time in 2015 and 2016. I wasn't up to it. But those two years helped me learn not to notice what people say or write. When you're struggling and you're in trouble... speaking clearly, because you are, that's when you see what you want to do and what you don't want to do." Marc Márquez's younger brother told Alex Lopez-Rey in a Red Bull podcast.
“The people next to you want the best for you and there are others who are only there because you win. You learn these things. But during these two years, I learned to deal with all the comments or anything that can affect you later in terms of results. »
“I wasn't getting the results I expected. I had just become Moto3 World Champion and I was not up to it. But as we said before, you don't really know everything: there were problems with the rear, with the suspensions, etc. From 2016, Öhlins changed what existed at the time. But during those two years (2015 and 2016), because of the package I had, I didn't know how to adapt and I had a really bad time. »
“I didn't measure up because of the way I came into the category. But I am sure that it was these two years that allowed me to win in 2019, because mentally, these were the two years in which I learned the most in the World Championship. »
Memories of the first day he rode a motorcycle:
“I don't know why I had a flash the first day I rode a motorcycle. I remember that I always said that I wanted to be Marc's mechanic, that I didn't want to be a driver. My parents helped me. It doesn't matter what you like, because you are their child. My parents collaborated with the Moto Club of Segre and in Bellpuig, they always did races and, when they finished, in the afternoon, we children would ride a little. I don't know why I had a flash that day. It was something I was looking forward to. »
The moment he realized he could become a professional pilot:
“When you realize you can do it is when you enter the World Championship, where everything is already more serious. We are very lucky to have a very strong Spanish Championship, with a lot of level, and the teams which are more professional make you arrive in the World Championship much better prepared. In the CEV, you already start to dream of being able to devote yourself to your passion, but when you arrive in the World Championship, it's when you devote yourself entirely to it 24 hours a day, and things become serious. »
“It's one thing to get there, but staying 15 or 20 years in the World Championship is the most difficult. Many people succeed, but what costs the most is being able to maintain and improve each year. That's when you realize that you can dedicate yourself to it and that you can pursue your dream, which is to be World Champion. »
When asked who his motorcycle idol was when he was a child, Álex Márquez is clear:
“I'm 24 years old and when I started to put my ideas in place, the one who won at the time in 125 cc and 3 cc was Dani Pedrosa. During his first years in MotoGP, he was always very supportive and he is the only rider who, even today, when I see him, and I don't know why, respects me. »
“Dani was Marc’s partner for many years and we spent many hours together. But today, maybe we meet one day to ride motocross or something, and he still respects me. I think Dani didn't have the chance he deserved, because I think a MotoGP title is more rewarding than anything else, and it's this reference that he has always considered since his childhood. »
Álex said he never told Dani himself how much he respected him:
“I'm ashamed to tell him directly, but I've never hidden it. When I was a child, I was the one who watched it. For me, he was the best rider technically on a motorcycle, but because of his size and physical deficiencies, he couldn't exploit everything he had in a category like MotoGP, which is very demanding and where the physical fitness is very important. »
Álex also talks about how he met Dani in person and when he first spoke to her:
“I took a photo with him, I think in 2004 or 2005, when he was in 250 cc at Montmeló. He was on a scooter with Raul Jara. I don't know where this photo is, I think I lost it. There was my brother, him and me. The first time I spoke to him was in 3, at a Repsol event in Madrid. »
In 2020, Álex is a Repsol Honda rider and partner of Marc Márquez, a position Pedrosa held from 2006 to 2018 (from 2013 to 2018 as partner of Marc):
“The best thing of all is that now I am in my idol’s place. It's something that doesn't even cross your mind when you're a kid, but when you're there you say to yourself: “Wow, two days ago I was there, and now I'm where he was”. It's something that gives respect, really. »
“Dani is super classy. He didn't win the MotoGP World Championship because of what he went through, and because in bad luck he beats us all. Every time he had the chance, something happened to him. But at the end of the day, when you're at the top, you have a lot of people who want the best for you, but Dani won over a lot of people with the way he conveyed things and the simplicity he had. »
“We have so many good athletes here in Spain, who are at a high level, that winning a World Championship is considered “Well…he’s someone.” Today, Marc has won eight World Championships and it seems that all the others are worthless, which is not the case. It takes away the value of things that have value. »
“When someone does well, a lot of people expect them to let their guard down a little. I'm not saying that for Marc, I'm saying it in general. Sport is like that; when a team, a driver or an athlete wins a lot of things, many people wait for the moment when he weakens a little to say " You see ? he is done ". It's like that. »
Photos © Repsol Media and Alex Marquez personally
