Let's talk MotoGP: Thank you Mr. Marc Marquez

What to say. At Le Mans, on absolutely legendary terrain, Marc Marquez, eight-time world champion including six times in MotoGP, shone brightly. Sunday even more than Saturday, in fact. His Grand Prix was certainly one of the finest of his career, and even rekindles the discussion regarding his future. At 31, he is at a decisive moment in his life, ready to pick up the pen again to continue writing his legend. The first victory with Ducati is only a matter of time, as for the title, he has every reason to think about it.

 

Bluffing

 

Where to start. Marc Marquez has been so everywhere at once that it's difficult to find an angle that enhances him enough. Overruns? Usually quite messy and hasty, they were subtle, intelligent, imbued with great courage like that. His running pace? Mind-blowing. Its rise on Bagnaia and Martin deserves to be studied in detail. Alone on the track, he was untouchable, and reminded me of the yo-yo style Marquez, so much easier than his opponents, that we saw at the very beginning of his career MotoGP.

His charisma? Far from the celebration that I considered a little excessive on the podium in Jerez – this is just my opinion, he remained in a measure that better suits his greatness, always in my opinion.

 

 

One thing really impresses me about it. I followed his entire career, from his beginnings, his first title in 125cc, then his domination in Moto2, through his numerous successes in MotoGP, his start to the 2014 season never seen before in the modern era, his pole in Austin in 2015, one of the craziest moments I have ever seen. Also, his weak, dishonorable, overly proud times. For good and for bad, and both at the same time.

And he still impresses me, after all these years. Ultimately, his real victory is perhaps this: to still be exceptional in the first sense of the term, to not be eclipsed by the many young guns full of talent who currently populate the grid. The standard bearer, whether we like it or not, whether we like it or not: It's Marc Marquez. Not Acosta, not Martin, not Bagnaia, but Marquez. He embodies current MotoGP more than any other.

 

The best second place of his career

 

Back to the bitumen verdict. His performance, from 13th place on the grid, does not require further analysis. His overtaking on Bagnaia, yes. I believe that in living memory, I had never seen a pilot come from so far to Chemin aux Bœufs, and manage to pass without damage. Moreover, Enea Bastianini's penalized overtaking attempt on Aleix Espargaro was less stupid.

 

 

Without taking away the slightest ounce of genius from Marc Marquez, he can thank Pecco Bagnaia a little. The Italian, one of the best of all time in duels, seems to have been fooled. He didn't bother to defend the interior even though it has been a favored spot for years. This perhaps explains his sadness on arrival; he didn't want to celebrate and we can't blame him. By the way, it's rare to see him like this.

So why Bagnaia, three-time world champion who we know is capable of aggression since Jerez, got tricked like this? I have my little idea. He didn't talk about it at the press conference, but I think he wanted to negotiate the Chemin aux Bœufs perfectly to attempt an attack on Martin in the first right of the S Bleus. Without calculating, he wanted to win the race and was not focused on his rear. But when the back is Marc Marquez, it's better to have eyes in the back.

 

 

The championship in sight

 

Tomorrow I will return to the equation that Ducati must solve at this very moment. But in the meantime, Pramac, factory or Gresini, it doesn't matter; Marc Marquez is a candidate for the 2024 title. What are his chances? In my opinion, still quite thin and that's just my opinion. Casually, I think that Martin and Bagnaia are a little stronger, and benefit from a machine that is not necessarily better, but which will become so as the year goes on. Even if the average points needed to be champion have been lower since 2020, Marquez, by chasing victory in each outing as he recalled when getting off his bike, will fall again, that's almost certain. This has already happened in Portugal and the United States and casually, he is already 34 points behind Martin who also dropped big points in Jerez.

And then, in terms of speed, Jorge is a step above. I said it yesterday in the analysis devoted to him but at Le Mans, in my opinion, he dominated more than the gap at the finish showed.. By the time Marquez unlocks all the secrets of his Desmosedici – which, according to the latest news, was not yet the case, then Martin will perhaps be too far ahead, without forgetting the boss that is Pecco Bagnaia of course. I therefore reiterate my prediction made before the start of the season: I think Marquez will finish well placed, as an outsider, but not wise enough to identify himself as a clear favorite.

What did you think of his weekend at Le Mans? 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