It's a given for Marco Melandri: This competitive season is his last. Next year, he will be a 37-year-old retiree. Before retiring from business, he will try to achieve his final exploits on a Yamaha, the brand with which he was vice-world champion in Superbike in 2011. He was also second in a general classification in MotoGP. It was in 2005 with Honda. In 2015, he made an appearance in the premier class on an Aprilia. And he crossed paths with a certain Marc Márquez…
When Marco Melandri returned to MotoGP in 2015, despite himself. Encouraged by Aprilia, he was one of the first to ride the RS-GP, in an environment where he no longer had any chemistry. The experience was not good, but the Italian nevertheless remembers a strong moment: The discovery of Marc Márquez.
Un Marc Márquez in full conquest of his territory, already twice titled, and even if, this year 2015 was a failure for him in the quest for a world crown of which Lorenzo seized after the events that we know with Red and the Honda official, Marco Melandri recalls : " I have had many rivals, but it is not possible to compare them” the Italian tells WorldSBK.com. “But in those few races I did in 2015, when I saw Marquez on the track, I realized he had something that no one had before ».
That being said, he also remembers his own period: “ When I was in MotoGP, I often told myself I was in the right place at the wrong time and never fully realized my potential ". The Italian reminds us that to succeed as a driver, you need more than talent, even if that comes first. “ You must be willing to work hard and accept some sacrifices. You also need the right people around you, and you also need luck, it's always useful ».
Melandri ends with a character that he is often criticized for: “ some people think I have a weak character. But I am actually someone who never stops fighting, I never feel discouraged, although sometimes I get angry, but when I see that the people around me are fully committed and working hard, I don't never give up. I never give up. What I can't accept is people trying to smoke you out ».
