At the French Grand Prix two weeks ago, the Gresini Ducati rider faced a setback by not advancing from Q1, but he showed remarkable resilience by climbing from 13th on the starting grid to secure second place in both the sprint and the main race at Le Mans.
During this weekend’s Catalan Grand Prix, Marquez encountered challenges in qualifying, starting from a modest 14th position due to struggles in maximizing the performance of new soft tires. However, he displayed his tenacity once again by finishing second in the sprint and third in the main race on Sunday.
However, Marquez expressed a lack of satisfaction with his recent comebacks, acknowledging that they were necessitated by mistakes. “I’m not proud about it, especially because if you make that comeback, it means that it’s coming from some mistakes,” he remarked.
Marquez opted for a risky strategy by being one of only four riders to choose the soft rear tire, but he was confident that it could last the full 24-lap distance if managed correctly. Despite initial doubts during the sighting lap, he committed to the soft tire, which ultimately paid off as he successfully completed the race.
Currently third in the standings, Marquez recognizes his position as a contender in the title race, but acknowledges that his true pace puts him behind two faster riders. He emphasizes the importance of improving his qualifying performance to challenge the frontrunners more effectively.
Reflecting on his performance at Montmelo, a circuit he finds challenging, Marquez emphasizes his determination to continually improve and overcome difficulties.
In the past four races, Marquez has made an impressive climb of 45 positions, starting from 13th at the French Grand Prix and 14th at the Barcelona race.
