This Sunday October 3, 2021, Marc Márquez answered questions from journalists from the Circuit of the Americas, following the Grand Prix of the Americas.
We went to listen (via teleconferencing software) to the words of the Spanish driver, who won his second victory of the season after a masterfully controlled race.
As usual, we report here the words of Marc Márquez without the slightest formatting.
Marc, you couldn't imagine a better outcome for your race. You started from third on the grid and executed your plan to perfection, with a superb start to take the lead at the first corner. You then assured your leadership in the first laps, before widening the gap from the sixth loop. Can you come back to your performance?
" It was indeed my plan was to lead the race from the first lap, and that's what I managed to do by braking very hard at the first corner. During the first laps I mainly focused on managing the race, before really starting to attack. I went from times in the high window to the low window of 2'04. »
" I was very strong at that moment, and my intention was clearly to widen the gap and that is what I managed to do. I still had a little uncertainty about my physical condition at the end of the course, but I must say that everyone encountered difficulties in this area. But in the end the gap that I opened up compared to Fabio Quartararo proved sufficient to allow me to manage my end of the race well and put together regular times. »
Once you opened up the gap after a third of the race, it must have been difficult to maintain the pace with all the heat and humidity at COTA. Not to mention the bumps...
" In the facts I made a few mistakes in the race, notably three laps from the finish where I almost crashed in turn 6. But it's true that I was very concentrated. I only really attacked three or four laps, but when I saw that I had managed to widen the gap I managed the situation, returning to the high window of 2'04, all in being regular because I still had a lot of room to be a little faster. »
" It is the first race on the calendar where I actually arrived with the intention of fighting for victory. Overall, the weekend went very well: Friday went very well, Saturday a little less, but in the end everything came together well today. »
“This is the first race of the year where I arrived with the intention of fighting for victory”
Given your record here, did you feel any additional pressure [Marc Márquez had signed seven pole positions and seven victories in eight appearances until this Sunday in Austin]?
" I have of course felt some pressure, this season is so strange and difficult for me. But I must say that I had never felt certain sensations in my career, because sometimes I fall and I don't understand why, others I fall quickly and I don't understand why either. »
"But little by little I realize that I am still capable of riding in a better way and better managing the situations that present themselves to me. But I'm still far from my previous level, and that's why I have to continue to attack, because I still haven't found that quite special feeling that I had in the past with the bike. »
“I still haven’t found that special feeling that I had in the past with the bike”
Your two victories this season have been obtained on counter-clockwise tracks, not counting your second place in Aragón. Can you explain what exactly you are missing in the right turns, because in fact there are many right turns with bumps in Austin, and yet it doesn't seem to have affected you...
" The Counterclockwise circuits have always been a strong point for me, but with my injury it's true that the difference with right turns is even greater. It's ultimately easy to explain: In left turns I can turn better because I pull the handlebars with my left arm to take my turn correctly. »
"But the problem is in right turns, where I also mainly use my left arm, but to push the handlebars, which makes my steering less precise with less force, which therefore causes more understeer. The fact is that I can't use my right arm well in turns, but my driving is still decent. »
“Pilot This is difficult, and this is the reason why I have fallen a lot up until now, losing my front, without being able to make the slightest rescue with my elbow. But it's something I'm working on. There are still three races to go, and I think it will still be difficult in Misano, because everyone is going to be very fast, especially with the two days of testing which are added to the previous round run there. But I must say that the last three races will allow me to know where I stand, especially in the right turns. »
“The last three races will allow me to know where I stand”
We saw you on the phone at Parc Fermé, can you tell us who was on the line?
" I was with Alberto Puig [the HRC team manager]. Everyone knows that he is a very important person within the team. Unfortunately he couldn't come here. His role is crucial because he really pushes everyone in the right direction, whether it be the technicians or the drivers. He takes care of all the parameters so that we are stronger and faster next season. »
You rode in the 2'04 window during the second part of the race. Did you expect this level of performance from the tires and yourself?
" Yes, because I am a driver who, when he is able to achieve a given lap time during free practice, is subsequently able to reproduce it in the race. It is true that sometimes the sensations are not quite the same and that it is more difficult, but my racing pace was the one I had already displayed during free practice. »
" It It was only in the last five laps where I slowed down a little because the gap had been made. My feelings were good, and I knew where to take a little more risk if Fabio came closer. It was about the rest of turns 2 to 4. I had seen Pecco Bagnaia's lines yesterday, he was trying to cut the turns a little which allowed him to save strength. So I tried to copy these trajectories. »
Where exactly are you in your recovery?
" I cannot answer this question precisely. All I can say is that when I do certain movements, I realize that I am still far from having fully recovered. But I must say that I am more and more able to maintain a normal position in the braking points. »
" I I'm not completely comfortable yet, for example I can't approach the corner sliding and then turn, although that was one of my strong points in the past. For the moment I approach the turns like the other drivers. I still have quite a few limitations, but I am able to ride the bike well. This weekend I asked my garage not to ask me any questions about my shoulder. »
" At In the end I just did my best. If we take yesterday [Saturday], I didn't feel well, and so I didn't insist. It was possible to do it like that because I was fast anyway, but that's not the case everywhere, and on other circuits I have to force more. So we'll have to see what happens over the next three races, but what's certain is that I can't wait for the winter break! »
You made a big attack to widen the gap at the front of the race, whereas in similar circumstances two years ago you made a mistake in turn 12. Did this error remain in a corner of your head until the end of the test?
" It is clearly stuck in my mind. The fact is that in this corner you always tend to want to brake a little more. Several times I found myself braking very hard and my 2019 accident came back to mind. So I released the brakes and didn't force it more than that by going wider. I didn't want to do too much, because it's easy to lose the front in turns 11 and 12. »
From a physical point of view, was it more or less difficult than you expected, especially with the bumps?
" For For me it was the same as in Misano. It's true that usually this circuit is more demanding, but for me it all becomes more relative in the sense that it's more difficult for me on all the circuits on the right. I even think that on the clockwise circuits I end up more tired than here at the moment. »
“I ended up less tired than on all the clockwise circuits”
You have just stated that you still haven't rediscovered that special feeling you had with the Honda. Can you tell us in what areas does the Honda limit you?
" In At this moment, our weak point clearly lies in the correct use of the rear tire. I can't exploit the full potential of the rear tire, but it doesn't deteriorate any further. I actually had the same level of grip with the new tire as the worn tire. This is also why I manage to be consistent in races quite easily, but this is clearly not the right way to be fast. On the contrary, I prefer to have a better level of grip, even if it means having to manage its degradation afterwards. »
Despite the difficult racing conditions, you still completed the race 11 seconds faster than during your last success here, in 2018. How do you explain that?
" I think Michelin has made good progress on the rear tire and the front tire. Compounds from previous editions worked differently. It's true that on Friday many complained about the omnipresence of bumps on the track, but afterwards you always make adjustments that allow you to deal with that, and you adjust your trajectories and try to play with your body. »
" I I think all this combined with the tires is what makes the difference. For the rest, I have to say that the bike doesn't work that badly. We of course encounter some difficulties depending on the circuits, but we put up with it and everyone does a good job, so that even if I don't yet drive in a completely natural way, I am still capable to be fast. »
You declared on Friday at the end of the first day that you did not have good feelings, despite your lap times being quite decent. When did you find the trigger to be so dominant on Sunday?
" I I have to admit that I wasn't any more comfortable yesterday, even though I was quite fast. It was during the warm up that I started to feel better and really be able to attack more. I think the key was to stay calm yesterday and keep your back while saving energy, so today you can give it your all. »
Changes have been made to your suit, particularly to your shoulder. Was this of any help to you today?
" These Changes were made in Aragón, because there I was really in great difficulty. I had a lot of pain in my shoulder, and when you reach a certain level of pain, even the smallest grain of sand upsets you. We therefore made this small modification to my suit, but it must remain temporary, because the objective is for me to come back fully recovered in the future. »
We came close to tragedy again this Sunday during the Moto3 race. Can you give us your opinion on what happened and on the sanction that hit Deniz Öncü [a suspension during the next two rounds]?
"This was indeed quite a frightening moment, especially in the context of this difficult year for motorcycle racing. But it is clear that it all started with a bad movement by one of the pilots involved. I think the penalty imposed on Öncü is severe, because he didn't do it on purpose, but you have to punish after a while to stop this type of behavior on the track. It's not possible to change trajectory like that in the middle of a straight line, these are far too aggressive maneuvers, especially in this category. »
You had felt a lot of pain in Misano. Did you have less pain here?
" Yes, it was much better here. But in any case the real pain always comes at the wrong time, usually on Tuesday, especially in the outer part of my arm, which forces me to use it in an unusual way. Here I haven't felt any pain until today, but I think the wet session on Friday helped me a lot. »
" There I'm starting to have a little pain, and in absolute terms the pain comes sooner if the circuit where I'm on has a majority of right turns. Now I have two weeks ahead of me to rest, and little by little my situation is improving, so this allows me to remain well motivated and optimistic for the future. »
MotoGP Austin – Race Results:
