“It completely changes the piloting”

Marc Márquez has been impressive in Le Mans in recent years. In 2023, during his last season at Honda, he occupied an unexpected second place when he fell two laps from the finish. Last year, on a Ducati from the previous season, he seized second place in the very last round, at the expense of Pecco Bagnaia, after a departure from a distant 13th place.

Now on the most recent version of the machine that crushes the championship, so much so that the record for consecutive victories for a manufacturer is likely to be beaten this weekend, Márquez appears as one of the favorites. He will have to face his brother Álex, leader of the championship after his first success in Jerez, or Bagnaia, who finally hopes to find his sensations this weekend.

But when they are asked about his chances this weekend, Marc Márquez does not focus so much on his opponents, but rather on weather conditions. The rain could be invited Sunday and above all, the temperature should rarely exceed 20 ° C during the weekend, which could play against the Spanish pilot.

“Le Mans is a circuit that I like, but it depends on the weather, not only if it rains or if it’s dry, but if it is cool or hot”explained Márquez. “It completely changes the piloting. If it is cold, this turn 2, this bend on the left, is more difficult, you cannot attack and I cannot make a difference. If it is hot enough, the sensations are much better with the motorcycle and the tires.”

Márquez has “only” three successes in Le Mans, but he appreciates the layout of the Bugatti circuit: “I really like this last sector. It’s a bit like a small karting circuit, but with rhythm. I like this last sector, it’s my favorite.”

“It is difficult to make the difference, even more now because with this aerodynamics and the variator of height at the back, all the pilots roll in a similar way”the souligné Marquez. “It’s hard to make a difference on this track.”

Márquez, however, has already won something this weekend since among the many animations on the program was a tour of the bicycle circuit, which he finished in the lead in front of his brother. The event was honored by the presence of Mark Cavendish, record holder of victories on the Tour de France and retired for a few months, at the age of 39. Márquez is impressed by the British career, still winner on the big loop last year, and makes it a model.

“I always liked the athletes of other sports and I told Cavendish that the hardest part is to be in great shape for many years. He did it, it’s incredible”underlined the winner of the “MotoGP tour” this Thursday: “It was a very nice event. We are not just accelerating! We are also athletes, we try to train with us. Some run more, others are more cycling, but I feel good.”

Photos of Thursday day at Le Mans