MotoGP, Álex Márquez: “Honda fell asleep, we’re all struggling”

Just prior to the summer break, during the Assen GP, it was confirmed that Álex Márquez has signed for the Gresini team for 2023. The Spaniard’s time with Honda will thus draw to a close, the results during this three-year period having fallen well below expectation. In 2020, his debut year, Marc’s younger brother reached the second step of the rostrum on two occasions, before struggling with various issues aboard the RC213V.

The difficulties he faces with Honda

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In what will be his last season with team LCR, his best result to date a seventh-place finish, Marquez is very self-critical, admitting while appearing on TV show El Larguero that: “The season’s not going well. I’d give myself a 5 or a 4.8”. All the Honda riders are clearly struggling with this new bike, the Spaniard adding: “Honda took a real gamble. During the pre-season, everything seemed quite good, but then the problems began in Qatar”. And things only got worse from there: “None of the new parts or ideas they’ve brought have worked. And so we’ve made no progress. Honda fell asleep and we’re all struggling”.

Brother Marc’s physical condition

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In all this, brother Marc Marquez, the only rider who has been able to do more with the package, is watching the racing from home after undergoing a fourth surgery on his right arm: “He has an impressive scar, and another one behind. He’s optimistic, positive and that’s the important thing. You can see he wants to come back, but he’s cautious. The doctors are in charge”. Working together at Honda is not easy and Alex admits: “Sometimes I can understand it. If everything had gone well and was perfect, it would be another story. But this hinders rather than helps me”.

What pushed him to accept this new challenge with the Italian team

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In November, the two-time world champion will turn the page and climb aboard the team Gresini Ducati Desmosedici: “Once I ride it, I’ll be able to get an initial impression of its strengths and weaknesses. It’s been the most complete and advanced bike for three years. They’ve worked hard and this is an opportunity. It’s a test, but the team won me over. They have a lot of experience and history… and that’s something that helped me take this step”. An important one for his career.

Translated by Heather Watson

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