Alex Marquez: "Portimao and Jerez are very important to redirect our course"

Alex Marquez He returned to the circuit where last year he signed his best result, fourth place at the Algarve Grand Prix, losing third place on the podium by 51 thousandths with Jack Miller. Now 2022, in which four races have been completed, has earned points in two of four appointments and is twentieth in the overall standings with 4 points. Like all Honda riders, he looks forward to the European championship tour to show the true potential of the new Honda.

The driver from Cervera, ambassador of Estrella Galicia 0,0, shares his impressions from the Portimao Museum on the eve of the start of the Portuguese GP.

Álex, you got points in races in Indonesia and Argentina, but you were left behind due to a crash in Qatar and the United States, how would you describe this start of the season?

The start of the season has been complicated because we hope to have better feelings. We were affected by the front end problems we started to see at the start of the season, especially in Qatar. We just don’t understand. It’s less critical than the old bike, but less understood. Then you have to find that intermediate point and have sensations. If you don’t feel the front end, a rider has a hard time. I myself need to improve so that these problems don’t affect me as much, but we do. The year is so long, there are so many races left and we have to “turn the tables” somehow. The problem was identified and we knew where we had to focus, both us and Honda, to take that step. Once we improve on that aspect, the bike has a lot of potential in terms of grip and in many other areas.

Whatever the result, in which race right now do you feel better and which do you feel more from where you want to be?

In the Qatar race we were not bad because we were back and had a good start to the race. Certainly, the one in Argentina was the most disappointing career for me because we didn’t know how to spin a bad situation and it was hard for us to know what was really going on. I think the one I felt the best was in the first five laps of Austin until the crash due to mistake, but we were riding at the speed of the race front. Not everyone was negative because we saw the problem, we made a good start to the race and in the first laps. There is a rhythm and that’s where we have to focus hard. We need to get over that weak point so that the step forward is great.

Much has already been said about the new version of the Honda RC213V, what is your perception of the new mount? In which sections do you think it is more competitive and where there is greater room for improvement?

The biggest improvement we’ve achieved is in the rear grip. Now that we have more grip, we leave that problem. However, having too much grip on the back causes other problems to arise. At the front end, a different step was taken compared to the previous bike. There is no feeling and where the bike does not turn. We need to beat as little as possible at that point and make the most of the good back grip we have.

The World Cup has finally arrived in Europe, although it will pass through Portugal before reaching the traditional event in Jerez. What are your expectations in Portimao? Do you think the increased intensity will have a positive effect on you, since two races are held in consecutive weeks?

Yes, we got to Europe. Since I started the World Cup, it has always started in Jerez. This year it was in Portugal, but I was also happy because it was next to home and it was a circuit I really liked where I achieved very good results in MotoGP. It has an atmosphere that I like and motivates me to do these two races in a row in Portimao and Jerez. You have less rest, but you are also happier. I think these two careers will be very important to start what they call the “European cycle” to redirect our course, which is what I like the most.

Is the weather getting more complicated than expected? Is it part of the room for possible improvements to your ride?

I’m sure I can improve my driving. When you have problems, improving your ride makes you feel less of it and you take better advantage of bad situations and that’s where I give myself homework for the future. We give our best. I’m sure we’ll get better soon, that we’ll start taking steps forward and having fun riding the bike, which is what I miss the most. I want to go fast and take the bike where I want. In terms of driving I think I’m riding better than last year, but I’m sure there are a lot of things that need to be improved.

Together with Marc, your brother, you share the goal of making the most of the features of the new Honda. Do you work together as siblings and as pilots of the same brand? How do you deal with this issue?

We talk about a lot of factors, we comment on things. When we were on the circuit, very little because everyone was focused on their work, but later at home, if we had any questions, we talked. It’s curious because, since I entered MotoGP, we’ve tried a lot in separate trials, but Alberto came. [Puig] and said: “your brother said the same thing” about this or that part. The comments are almost always the same and, although our styles are more or less different, how we position ourselves on the bike is pretty much the same. It is at that point where we try to help ourselves become more competitive and more comfortable on the bike. Marc’s start hasn’t been easy, especially since the crash in Mandalika and in general over the weekend. And at least he recovered from the injury and is in Austin. There he found the sensations again, he went back to riding the way he wanted, a lot of attacking on the front end and that was good news for us because they were already trying certain things. Hopefully we can follow that path and rediscover the beautiful sensations up front, which is what we need more now.

What can you say to your unconditional followers? Want to see you fight for the podium again this season?

Sana! I don’t think we have started as we should, but in MotoGP everything is very tight, in small things you can take a big step forward and my goal is to still get into the top 8 by the end of the year. I think this is possible because the year is so long and there are many factors that can influence. I will continue to insist, improve and, as I said before, have fun on the bike. That’s when everyone will start working as expected and everyone on the team will start to enjoy it as well.