RIDER INTERVIEW
# SpanishGP
“ It makes me happy that I ’ m enjoying it ,” he said during the second round of the year in Portugal . “ I ’ m top five , six . When you are there you feel competitive and this is the most important .”
Returning that feeling was a principle reason why the eight-time World Champion sensationally switched to Gresini Ducati from Repsol Honda at the end of last year . The previous four seasons had been tough , with 2023 especially so . It was clear for all to see Marquez found little enjoyment in finishing 14th overall .
New surroundings have offered up new hope for 2024 . But Marquez insists , “ The pressure is the same ,” whether he ’ s in a satellite team , or leading a manufacturer . “ Riders are ( only ) happy if they ’ re on the podium . It ’ s the target of this team . To have a good atmosphere doesn ’ t mean you don ’ t have ambition . The ambition is the same as a factory team - we ’ re here to fight for the best result possible .”
Marquez wasn ’ t at his explosive best at the first round as he got to understand the Gresini Ducati GP23 . From there his feeling improved . “ In Qatar I struggled a bit more . I was riding without confidence . It looks conservative but when you don ’ t have confidence you can ’ t push . ( In Portugal ), the confidence ( was ) better , I ’ ve started to understand the bike better , and I ’ ve started to know what I need on this bike to be fast .
The six-time MotoGP™ World Champion hasn ’ t been interested in talk about his plans for 2025 , insisting instead that his current package is enough to challenge the best in class , even if it ’ s one year old . “ I have what I have . For me I ’ m already feeling better than last year . Of course , the ’ 24 ( Ducati ) will be better in some points but with the ’ 23 bike we have the experience of last year . Still , I haven ’ t discovered all the potential of this bike , which I need to do .”
There have been some teething issues as he adapts to a completely new style of bike for the first time in eleven years . Like in Portugal , when some basic mistakes cost him a good qualifying position . And he also has to counter his instinct at times , which still makes him ride the Ducati like a Honda . “ When I do a time attack , my instinct arrives ,” he said . “ I ’ m used to going super fast on the apex with a Honda , with some sliding . But with this bike , you need to ride in a different way . The potential is in another area .”
Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España | 67