Determined. Perhaps this is the key word to describe Marc Marquez at the start of the 2022 season. The Honda rider seems to be really the one to achieve two objectives: to permanently put aside the injuries that have affected him in the last two years (first to his right arm and then at sight) and return to reintegrate into the fight for the World Cup.
To put it in ideal conditions, the Japanese manufacturer has completely renewed the RC213V, also modifying some of its historical concepts. Certainly there will be work to be done on the new bike, even if from the first indications it seems to have been born quite well. And Marc will also need time to regain his best physical condition. The target, however, is to make life difficult for everyone once things are back to “normal”, and the Cervera rider made it clear on the day of the presentation of the Repsol Honda Team.
You are now one of the most experienced pilots in the premier class, but you are still young. What does it mean for you?
“Yes, of course I will be one of the most experienced riders in the MotoGP class, but it is true that I am still only 28, I will be 29 soon. I feel a kind of responsibility, but in the end the new generation has arrived just as I have arrived in past: very young in MotoGP, and even if it’s difficult, it’s the way to be successful in this category. “
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team, Pol Espargaro, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Repsol Media
It was another complicated winter for you …
“It was the fourth winter in a row that I was injured and I could not train as I wanted. But it is true that it seems that we will start the preseason in a normal way, we did the tests in Malaysia, we can do another one in Mandalika. and this will already be very important. There is still one month before the first race, so I still have time to train and to get to the first race in a good condition. “
Could the accident you had in November change the way you train?
“I always try to keep the same training style, the same passion, the same spirit, because in the end that’s what I’ve always had since I joined the MotoGP. Of course, in the gym I have adapted a little to my new injuries and to the new situation, especially with the arm, and all these things, but in any case we try to fix everything. , I mean it will be the same because in the end if you want to be the champion you have to train hard at home. If you stay on the couch, it means zero risk but you will never reach your goal which is to fight for the championship. “
How are you physically?
“I mean that I always feel better. Of course, in November and December I couldn’t train because I had double vision, so I was just doing small things in the gym. It was very difficult, but then in January I started feeling a little better and I I was able to start pedaling for a few days. Then, especially from mid-January until now, I was able to train on the bike, in the gym and on a bicycle. It is getting better and better. It is true that one of the key points for this 2022 season for me will keep my arm, and especially my shoulder, fresh because now I feel really good, but during the races, and especially when we have many in a row, it will be crucial. Last year was my biggest limitation, so I feel already better than 2021, but it will be one of the key points “.
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Repsol Media
Will we come back to see you save the falls as before?
“We’ll see. A compromise is always needed between the physical condition and the feeling with the bike. Already in the last races I raced in 2021 I started to feel that special feeling, still not perfect, but I started to be more competitive. This will be there. ‘goal in 2022, to find the feeling. If you find that, the results arrive accordingly “.
You weren’t able to take part in the Jerez tests in November, but you have already lapped in Sepang and you will also be there in Mandalika: will it be enough to prepare for the first race?
“I was unable to participate in the Jerez test, which was very important. Normally from that test the HRC, but all the manufacturers have two months to work in the factory and it was an important test, but luckily for me I had already been able to test the new one. bike in the Misano test and give my opinion. At Jerez all the HRC riders followed my directions a bit. This was important, for all the Honda riders to be equally focused and yes, it will be important to work hard in Malaysia and Mandalika to prepare well, especially for the first races, to start with a good base. Then, during the season, it is true that from one circuit to another there are different conditions, so you have to adapt as soon as possible “.
After two seasons of not winning the title, what have you set for 2022?
“My goal this year is to try and fight for the championship. I mean, of course, last year was a very special situation, this year there was again a very critical situation in the winter period, but luckily, the doctors helped me get to the first test and it was a big surprise. Because it was a critical situation with double vision and no one knew what would happen but, in the end, I followed the doctors’ advice, and everything went perfectly. So yes, from that point of view the goal will be to work hard in the pre-season and fight for the championship during the season. “
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Repsol Media
Are you hungrier this season than any previous season? Do difficulties give you more motivation?
“Of course in an athlete’s career anything can happen and I can have periods from both sides: the best side of the sport and the worst side of the sport, and it’s true that the worst side has come for two years in a row. 2020 and 2021 have been difficult seasons, in which I have suffered very, very difficult on the personal side because racing affects you on the personal side, in your mentality, in your character, in everything. But yes, now I feel after the latter. injury it’s time to go back, I feel ready but I know I have to do everything step by step “.
And as for the competitors, who do you see as a favorite?
“At the moment I can’t say just one favorite, but I can say five names for example. But two riders who will be very, very fast are Quartararo and Bagnaia. These two riders rode very well last year, especially Bagnaia who finished. the season in a positive way. We need to understand the Ducati level. Apart from that I just want to focus on my garage, on my bike with my team and I know that if everyone works in the right way, we will have options. “
Pol finished the season well, how do you see him in 2022?
“It’s true that my teammate Pol had some ups and downs last year, he got a pole position but then in some races he was very far from the group of the best. I mean he will be fast, obviously he’s a good driver. And it will be fast. It is true that if the bike improves a little all the Honda riders will improve too, but already in the last part of the season in Portimao Alex (his brother) had a good race, in Valencia Pol was injured but he had been very fast in practice. It will be interesting to understand the level of our bike and it is true that I also expect a competitive Pol. “
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