Honda test driver Stefan Bradl talks about and admits his troubled relationship with Marc Marquez: “I was jealous of his speed”.
About Luigi Ciamburo de Motoracing
Stefan bradl et Marc Marquez were rivals during the 2 Moto2011 season, when the German rider won the title, riding a Kalex from the Viessmann Kiefer Racing team. Marc Marquez had to deal with health problems linked to diplopia at the time, which appeared after a fall in Sepang. Bradl thus managed to triumph during the last round of Valencia before even running the race. After his debut in MotoGP in 2013, Marc took more than one revenge, immediately becoming world champion with Honda and also repeating in the following championship.
Years later, the two find themselves working side by side for a common cause: bringing back Honda at the top of the premier category. Stefan bradl replaced Marc Marquez in at least twenty Grands Prix, due to the injuries of the multiple champion from Jerez 2020 to today. In constant telephone contact, they had a long discussion in the pits during the weekends in Austria and Misano, where Marc remained on the bench to observe the work of the engineers Honda and colleagues of the brand. His team leader Santi Hernandez has been collaborating for some time with the Bavarian in data collection and to study some useful updates in the evolution of the RC213V, so that Marc Marquez could find a “basic package” from which he could begin his return (perhaps to Aragón).
Stefan Bradl: “ Marc Marquez was faster than me and I hated him. It destroyed me »
In the second episode of HRC's new documentary series, Stefan bradl retraced his career, admitting that “ the most moving moment of my life » dates back to 2011, when he won the Moto2 title after a long duel with Marc Marquez. Two destinies that intersect more than a decade apart. “ Replacing Marc is never easy. He's a great champion, he's won a lot here. On the one hand I feel very privileged, on the other hand it is also a burden on my shoulders “, admitted the test pilot. But his thoughts return with absolute sincerity to the days when they were rivals on the track. “ I was jealous of Marc when he arrived in MotoGP. We didn't talk much because we were big rivals. I had won the title against him so I wanted to beat him and he was much faster".
Race after race, Stefan bradl understood that the Spanish phenomenon was unstoppable for everyone and would win many titles. “ I wondered how I could be faster than him, I had no answer. At 23, I had to accept the situation and it was really difficult. I had a lot of respect for him as a driver because he was incredibly talented, but he was faster than me and I hated him. It destroyed me ". Today the relationship is almost fraternal and both pursue the same objective: “ we all work for the future and we do our best ". In Aragon, Marc Marquez could return to GP racing more than three months after the last operation and begin a new chapter in his MotoGP adventure.
