This Thursday, September 30, 2021, Marc Márquez answered questions from journalists from the Circuit of the Americas, ahead of the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the Spanish driver, who will be keen to do well this weekend on one of his favorite circuits.
As usual, we report here the words of Marc Márquez without the slightest formatting.
Marc, you are coming off a great fourth place two weeks ago at Misano, and this time you are arriving at a circuit that you love. Things are of course a little different this year for you, but we have seen in the past this season, on anti-clockwise tracks such as the Sachsenring or in Aragón, that you could still display a very high level of competitiveness. Is this likely to raise your expectations for this weekend?
" It It is clear that if we compare Misano and Austin, the approaches to the weekend are different. I know that I normally have a lot of fun here, and that's what I'm going to try to do this year too, because so far this season I'm suffering more than I'm having fun. We'll see: it's a difficult track, with a lot of braking, a lot of changes of direction, but the fact that this track turns to the left will help, that's for sure. But if I have fun, it is certain that there will be a good result. »
“If I have fun, there will be a result”
The two days of testing carried out at Misano following the San Marino Grand Prix were important for all the manufacturers, but perhaps even more so for Honda, which also took the opportunity to roll out a brand new motorcycle . Have you been convinced by this, and have you already been able to identify areas for progress?
" In Indeed, we tried the prototype for the 2022 season, and I must say that I felt the difference, perhaps the biggest since I joined Honda. The whole team works hard, and it was very interesting. We have made considerable progress on our strengths, but of course when we progress we then come across other problems. »
"But we have already understood some things. Pol Espargaró and I had pretty similar comments, and we were both very quick with the new bike. But we have to continue working and see what happens on other tracks, and especially when the grip level is lower, because in Misano after the Grand Prix the latter was of course very high. »
What is your opinion regarding the statements by Michele Fabrizio [who denounced the “risky” driving style of the Honda driver, from which according to him more and more young drivers are inspired] towards you following the death of Dean Berta Viñales?
" Before All things considered, I would like to assure Maverick of all my support, as well as the entire Viñales family. I know them, and I can tell you it's hard. It's a tough and very sad season for the motorcycle world. »
"When I see this person's comment, I have to admit that I don't understand how she could say that, especially during this season which is so difficult. I don't want to waste my time on these comments, because as soon as I read this I told myself that it wasn't even worth dwelling on. The best thing to do is to carefully analyze what happened to ensure that this type of accident does not happen again in the future. Risk will always be there in motorcycle racing, but we need to understand how to reduce it. »
What do you think is the secret to being fast in Austin?
" I I don't really have any secrets, it's just that this circuit suits my driving style perfectly. I remember that during the 2013 preseason I was already two seconds faster than the others. But I really couldn't say why. Afterwards, it must be said that the track has changed a lot and that it has many more bumps than in the past. It's therefore more difficult to know how to be quick about it. »
Given your physical condition, where do you expect to suffer the most? In the first sector with its rapid changes of direction, where on the different major braking points?
" It is true that I will undoubtedly suffer in the changes of direction, but if I manage to keep calm during the weekend, I am sure that I will succeed in doing well. I think that I will have the most difficulty in the long right turns in sector 4. But beyond that, I don't want to think about my shoulder, I just want to have fun on the track. I will undoubtedly suffer again in Misano. »
Is it more difficult to drive on counterclockwise circuits?
" I of course prefers left turns, but I think it also depends a lot on the bike. For example on the Honda we use the rear brake a lot, which is easier in left turns. And then I do so much motocross that I've gotten used to making left turns, and I'm even very comfortable skidding on that side. »
Can you tell us more about the new Honda? What are its strong and weak points?
" This new bike is smoother, it provides more grip and it is more agile when cornering. It is better in all areas, but this year our weak point is in the rear brake, and that is where we are concentrating the vast majority of our efforts. We have also made considerable progress at this level. »
"The The fact is that although we are making progress on our weak points, we are losing in other areas where we have been more comfortable until now, such as corner entries. For the moment, the times are approximately the same between the new and old bike. But it's rare to be so fast straight away with a new machine without having yet looked into the settings. But now it is time to analyze all this. »
“Our weak point is at the rear brake”
Maverick Viñales made the decision not to race this weekend following what happened last week [the death in Jerez of his cousin Dean Berta Viñales in Supersport 300]. In your opinion, does the championship provide sufficient support to drivers in this type of situation?
" I thinks Maverick made the right decision. In his place I would have done the same thing. As for Dorna, they are trying to protect us from all this. They are doing everything they can to improve safety, whether on the circuits, the suits, the helmets… But risk cannot be eradicated from motorcycle racing. »
" A Once we said that, it's true that if we look at it compared to 20 years ago, we see that there are twice as many categories, twice as many drivers on the track. When people say that they are looking to bring out more and more young talents, this implies always having more categories, more drivers competing, and therefore more risks. It's something that's difficult to grasp, it's difficult to find the right compromise. Now we have so many categories that not a weekend goes by without a race: MotoGP, Superbike etc. This means that we are multiplying the risks compared to the past. »
“Risk cannot be eradicated from motorcycle racing”
You serve as sheriff in Austin given your number of victories. Given your track record here, can you analyze the strengths and weaknesses of Fabio Quartararo and Pecco Bagnaia on this track?
" The two are very fast, and as we saw in Misano, they are truly on another planet. When you fight for the championship, you manage to give yourself even more than usual. You don't know how, but you have this little extra something in terms of concentration in particular. »
"The Quartararo's strong point is that he is two races ahead. Even if he retires here he will still be in the running for the title. Conversely, this is Pecco's weak point, because he cannot afford to make the slightest mistake. Pecco's strong suit is stop-and-go circuits, while for Fabio it's flowing corners. »
