Marc Marquez believes he needs to improve his performance in qualifying if he wants to compete for the MotoGP title in 2024. Despite starting in 13th place on the grid at the Catalunya Grand Prix, he managed to climb to a double podium, just as he did at the French Grand Prix two weeks ago. Currently in third place in the standings, Marquez is just two points behind Francesco Bagnaia in second, with a 41-point gap to leader Jorge Martin. Marquez acknowledges his position as a championship contender, but emphasizes the importance of securing a better grid position to avoid having to fight to climb in the two races.
Marquez expressed his dissatisfaction with his qualifying results in the last races, admitting he is not proud of his performances. He believes his recoveries from lower positions are the result of mistakes made during qualifying. Starting in 14th place, Marquez felt compelled to opt for the soft rear tire, as it provided him with extra grip in the early laps to overtake other riders. Despite the difficulties he faced, he managed to catch up to the Aprilia riders on medium tires. Marquez took a risk by choosing the soft rear tire, but he carefully considered the assurances that would allow him to successfully complete the race.
During the reconnaissance lap, Marquez realized he was not feeling comfortable with the medium tire, so he decided to switch to the soft option. Although the team knew the soft rear tire was on the limit, they analyzed the situation and determined that it would be able to last until the end of the race. Marquez struggled to keep Aleix behind him towards the end, but Aleix was also facing difficulties with the medium tire.
