Marc Marquez had his worst performance as a Ducati MotoGP rider before the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League. However, he managed to turn the situation around during the race in Le Mans, starting from 13th position on the grid and finishing in second place. Despite a challenging Friday and a difficult Q1, Marquez executed a remarkable start that he considered the best of his MotoGP career. His ability to navigate through a tight space between Pecco Bagnaia and Pedro Acosta was particularly impressive.
Marquez attributed his success in climbing from 13th to fourth position on the first lap to his aggressive and precise maneuvers in the early corners. He mentioned that a combination of concentration, luck, and instinct played a role in his progress. In an era where holeshot devices make it difficult to gain an advantage at the start, Marquez’s exceptional start was the highlight of his race. However, he emphasized that the most crucial aspect for him was the consistent pace after the start. Throughout the weekend, Marquez struggled to find a good rhythm, but during the sprint race, he managed to maintain a strong and steady pace, which brought him great satisfaction.
Although Jorge Martin, the race winner, had the freedom to control the pace, Marquez’s lap times indicated that he could have challenged Martin if he had qualified better. The difference between them remained relatively stable throughout the race, and Marquez’s path to second place was facilitated by penalties and falls from other riders. Marquez acknowledged that his difficulties on Friday and the uncertain qualifying were the result of a setup experiment that didn’t work out. However, he and his team made adjustments to the electronics for the sprint race, significantly improving his performance.
Marquez frequently mentioned the need to adapt his riding style to the characteristics of the Ducati. However, in Le Mans, he realized he needed to let the bike lead and ride more sensitively. He described his previous struggle against the bike and emphasized the importance of finding the right approach to maximize the bike’s potential.
Looking ahead to the next race, Marquez is not sure if he will be able to replicate his impressive race pace and start. Although he believes he has the pace to make a recovery, he acknowledges the challenge posed by riders like Martin, Bagnaia, Vinales, and Bastianini, who are all incredibly fast.
