Marc Marquez has expressed that he doesn't think he could have won the 2024 MotoGP title, even if he had ridden the Ducati GP24, which currently dominates the competition.
This rider had to make do with an aging GP23 bike during his time with the Gresini team at the start of the year, which put him at a disadvantage against the factory Ducati and Pramac teams.
Despite the lack of the latest technology, the Spaniard was able to shine throughout the season, signing three victories and ten podiums, which allowed him to finish in an impressive third place in the championship, just behind the reigning champion Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia.
Many industry experts firmly believed that he would have had a real chance of adding a seventh title to his record if he had benefited from equipment equivalent to that of the other contenders.
However, Marquez expressed that he would not have fought to the level of Martin and Bagnaia, explaining that he was not in the “best moment” of his career after four difficult years at Honda.
Asked by Motorsport.com Spain about the likelihood he would have won the title with the GP24, Marquez said: “I'm not going to say yes, because Jorge and Pecco both had a big year. I wouldn't know how to win because I wasn't at the best time to fight for the title. »
Marc Marquez, Gresini Racing
Photo par : Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“Maybe I would have been closer in terms of points at the end of the year, yes, but I wouldn't have won it. »
Marquez took a risk at the end of 2023 by ending his lucrative contract with Honda to join satellite team Gresini.
This meant, among other things, having to adapt to a bike designed according to a completely different philosophy after 11 years of riding the Honda RC213V.
This task was complicated by the fact that he suffered a significant arm injury during the 2020 Jerez Grand Prix, requiring four surgeries over the following years to fully recover.
The 31-year-old indicated he was hoping for nothing more than a podium and a victory in 2024, meaning anything he achieved after his victory at the Aragon GP in September was a bonus for him.
“In terms of physical sensation, I take the test in Valencia [en 2023]. Testing the bike after 10 years with Honda was the biggest boost I got this season,” he said.
“Then there are two moments, the podium in Jerez, where I saw victory very close, and the victory in Aragon, which was not an obsession, but which I was pursuing. »
“Everything I had written down this year, I accomplished, and the rest came as a gift. The rest arrived as a gift. If I had written that I would be world champion? I wasn't being realistic. I couldn't go from four years in hell to glory all at once. »
Marquez will be one of only three riders to ride the new Ducati GP25 next year, as he joins the Italian brand's factory team alongside Bagnaia.
This statement from Marc Marquez raises interesting questions about the nature of competition in the world of MotoGP. When considering the evolution of a driver in the face of mechanical and personal challenges, it is evident that success is not only based on the technology at hand, but also on the mindset and lessons learned. throughout a journey. Marquez's transparency about his personal situation and the high expectations he places on himself are a reminder that every athlete goes through periods of doubt and uncertainty. In this motorsport landscape, it is crucial to keep in mind that performance is a subtle combination of technique, resilience and adaptability, encompassing the ability to cope with daily adversities.
-Related News :