MotoGP Marc Marquez and the Honda season: “I wasn’t there, they struggled”

Marc Marquez was the big absentee from the 2020 season, especially for Honda which painfully verified the adage that you are missing only one being and everything is depopulated. The big house in the colors of Repsol, accustomed to collecting titles like others pearls, found itself in the balance of the past season with a best driver overall only tenth, namely Nakagami, a penultimate position among the manufacturers behind Aprilia and that of penultimate among the teams, behind Gresini Aprilia and Avintia. The eight-time champion returns to this sad observation, a direct consequence of his crime...

Confusing speed with haste can be costly in MotoGP. Thus, wanting to return far too quickly from a serious injury pushes back any prospect of finding your machine in good shape to do your job. It's a hard lesson learned Marc Marquez and understood Honda. 2020 was the worst year for the manufacturer in its engagement in the premier Grand Prix category. Suffice it to say that there is no question of reproducing the same scenario in 2021.

And yet, we still don't know when Marc Marquez will be able to resume competition. And even then, how it will be. In the meantime, the Spaniard gives his thoughts on last season. An assessment all the more interesting as he remained in contact with his team during his forced absence. This allowed him to discover to what extent the people involved in the project Honda MotoGP suffered. “ I know the Japanese employees in particular had to fight hard ", declared the Spaniard to MotoGP.com.

« I was not there. In some races they got a little out of the way. It wasn't necessarily because of my absence ", Explain Marc Marquez. " My brother was a beginner. He learned to ride and couldn't care less about the motorcycle. Cal Crutchlow was not at his best. He also struggled. Nakagami had some good races, but not enough ", said Marquez.

Marc Marquez: “I have to make up for it when I can ride again”

« They had a hard time "Says Marquez. “ But they worked very hard and tried many things. They used a different bike than mine because it had new parts. I have to make up for it when I can ride again. Now they work very hard »

« They did a lot of testing with Stefan Bradl. He does a very good job »Says Marquez, praising the work of HRC test pilot, who has already been able to do a few laps in Spain with 2021 components. You have to thank them because they keep pushing to put together the best possible package, a package that you can fight for the championship with ».

During his injury break, Marquez was in constant contact with the team leader Santi Hernandez. " I stayed in touch because it was important to me to stay involved. I didn't want contact to be broken. I wanted to know what they were doing. When I come back I will be better informed », explains MM93.

now Marc Marquez has a new teammate. He expects a lot of Pol Espargaro. " Pol is hungry. This will be a new challenge for me. He wants to beat me and the other drivers with the Honda. He finished the last season very well with KTM. With Honda, he wants to continue like this or even improve further ". And while waiting for him to return, he will have gained his bearings and confidence and will be even more formidable...