Let's talk MotoGP: Marc Marquez is the big winner this weekend

For the first time this season, Marc Marquez was beaten on the track; yet, he may have been the big winner this weekend, even from second place. The eight-time world champion was excellent as his rivals crumbled one after the other. He doesn't win, and that's when he's most dangerous.

 

A demonstration

 

Before discussing this crazy Grand Prix, let's take a look at qualifying. As in Jerez, a very good time propelled him to provisional pole, but Fabio Quartararo did better. In reality, it's not so bad, because, as long as Bagnaia and/or Alex Marquez don't start in front of him, Marc's explosiveness can allow him to quickly recover positions in the first laps. Besides, that's more or less what he did during the Sprint, although he stayed behind Quartararo quite a bit. But we know that when the official Ducati rider stagnates two or three tenths behind his prey, victory is near.

 

 

This sixth consecutive success in the short format constitutes a new record, without anyone being able to do anything about it, once again. Bagnaia's fall gave him a clear advantage in points, but it was nothing compared to the following day..

When I saw the overcast sky and the wet track, I immediately thought it was for Marc Marquez. Then, when I saw that the conditions were as imprecise as possible, that nobody knew what to do, then I was certain. When you have to adapt quickly to parameters that can disrupt the concentration of the drivers, no one in history is better than Marc Marquez.

In Austin, everyone pitted because Marc Marquez did: that's the benchmark. After a warm-up lap, the official Ducati driver chose to go back to slick tires, partly because Alex Marquez, his closest rival in the championship, also stopped. Afterward, we did indeed see the rise of Johann zarco with rain tires, but I will explain in the article dedicated to Pecco Bagnaia why the option slick was indeed the best at the start of the race for the favorites.

At the start of the race, I felt he was in a bit of trouble, even overtaken by Alex Marquez. Then he stopped again – perhaps a lap too late strategically, but that doesn't change anything – this time to put on the grooved tyres. There, Zarco was in front, eight seconds behind.Marc was faced with a dilemma. Should he launch a frantic pursuit behind the LCR rider? Or should he secure that second place that seemed certain to him given Alex Marquez's lower pace? And this time, he made the right decision.

 

 

Marquez slowed down, he played intelligently. Bagnaia had crashed, and Alex Marquez also cracked later. I think that by pushing, he would never have been able to catch Zarco, because he would have fallen long before, The MotoGP gods were with the Frenchman this timeIt was a real show of strength, and despite the initial parameters being rather vague, he still managed to achieve the best possible result. Such is the mark of the greats.

 

His best version

 

I like this Marquez, who doesn't go for everything, but who thinks. I've been saying since the end of 2022 that this is how he's at his best, it's not when he tries to impose himself every time he goes out. If he starts riding like that, I think he'll break away easily – I said easily – of this world title. No other driver is capable of maintaining such a high points average per year, it's verified. Find this article dated three years ago by clicking here, and, if I please forgive my style – which has evolved, I hope – the conclusions remain relevant. Pecco Bagnaia in 2023 and Jorge Martin in 2024 both had relatively low averages on a historical scale, and very weak at all on the scale of Marc Marquez.

 

 

The problem is, he's never kept his word every time. He's done this to us at least three times: First, he tells us that he has changed, that he knows that we must no longer let ourselves be carried away by the desire to win.. Then he pushes, once, twice, and falls again. So, this is why I ask you again the eternal question: will we see this Marc Marquez again when Bagnaia is in front of him, within reach? He is his own worst enemy and Pecco must pray that, on that day, Marc will try to catch him, because that is always what leads to his fall.

 

Conclusion

 

I warned you after Jerez, because Marc Marquez didn't kill the championship when he had the chance. Two weeks later, I'm not saying it's dead, but it's not far off. Yes, he is "only" 22 points ahead of his brother, but I maintain that his real rival is his teammate. I fear that Alex Marquez will not be able to keep up with the pace of the GP25s as they evolve, to the point of letting Bagnaia pass in the standings. But Pecco, himself, is at 51 points, after having recorded his worst weekend in MotoGP. Honestly, as it stands, I can't see how this Bagnaia can take 51 points from this Marc MarquezBut let's wait a few more races before giving a definitive opinion on the outcome of the championship.

I'm curious to know what you thought of Marc Marquez's weekend. Tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Michelin Motorsport