"The priority will continue to be Honda"

Thursday of the Media Day of the Catalunya GP, Alex Márquez did his job as ambassador for Estrella Galicia 0,0 before his brother Marc, on the other side of the Atlantic, underwent an operation, certainly, on his right arm . She is not afraid of self -criticism and this is a gift at these times. After two world titles on his MotoGP stage, he had to face one of the worst chances for Honda. And this Saturday on FP4 it was proven once again in a thrilling collision at super speed.

[+] Watch the full video interview here:

After 8 GP, Portimao’s 7th was the best result. You have 20 points and you haven’t achieved the regular top-8. What balance are you doing?

We’ve worked hard, not just me, but the Honda team. The situation is not easy, we just need to look at the classification of constructors, we are not done with the feeling, we know where the problem is, but solving it is more difficult and more of a completely new prototype where the parameters are so. others and many more you can escape. I will continue to insist, I am Taurus and I am stubborn. Last year from mid-season forward we took a very important step forward and this year we will be able to do the same and testing here will be key as well as Silverstone after the break with more time to work for factory. but if any factory has the potential to spin such a situation, it’s Honda.

In the preseason, it seems like the new Honda 2022 concept and having the rear grip you claim will put you in competition but it’s turned out to be the opposite and you have a lot of trouble getting into the curve and rotating it, what happened?

I was optimistic with my feet on the ground and I said, wait for a normal GP without much grip and on the exam in Mandalika I started to see that there was something ahead and in Qatar there was something there, I no longer felt this good. it was hard for me that we were at the same point than last year but the opposite problems last year were the front side was good and we didn’t have a grip on the rear and this year it was completely the opposite. I wish we had the magic wand to do half the bike front and rear, but it’s impossible because the concept is different.

When did you go astray because the history of 2021 was repeated?

When you make this new prototype you jump in the pool, you never know how it will turn out. It’s not that it’s improved from last year and gives you some specific keys but it’s all different, from the test prototype from Jerez to Malaysia many changes were made and there also the course was gone a little and there was very little preseason, a point was not understood and then we found out.

Marc saw the problem, but now you’ve lost him again for a long time and now what, who’s going to mark the progress?

Who created Honda, between the three of us, we were Honda pilots and Bradl as a tester and it was very important the three developing comments and all together and without Marc it was time to strive to move forward and in these months without Marc not gone.

After two and a quarter years, are you considering changing the landscape or is the priority going to continue?

The priority was to continue with Honda, the factory with the most potential and resources in MotoGP, they gave me the confidence to climb MotoGP and believed in me and my mission was not over, in Moto2 they told me why not will you climb and I said yes, my mission was to win and here in MotoGP the mission of being competitive and enjoying myself has not been fulfilled, first year the result was good and I showed that I have potential and we need to insist and the priority is to continue where I am .

Next year there will be two fewer bikes and the ‘mercato’ will close later than usual in recent years and now you are also putting your future at risk. How much pressure?

Press no, the rider can only talk on the track and with good results, this is your future and who does not care not to know where he will go next year. The mentality to work do the best I can and give my 100% for inside you know that you have given everything and you stay calm. Try it I’ve tried that, I fell, inside I was calm, the results have to be easier.

Marc tells Mugello that his character has changed with the disease and he paid for it himself. You were the first to sign up and join him in Madrid while you were living in those days.

I already told him to have surgery and lighten up (laughs), when you’re sick you go to the gym and I can exercise and he can’t. Yes, we’re brothers, but in the end we’ll be rivals and if your rival can train a little more and and no, he can’t push-ups and he has those exits … I’ll go somewhere else so that he doesn’t . to listen to him and for our coach to put up with him.

And you at Mugello said that even a quarter of what Marc suffered was not seen. You, who know him better than anyone, are about to throw in the towel?

Throw it away … there was a crisis point especially after the eye injury in November, that was the most critical, and after Mandalika because he was also in pain and it wasn’t easy to see the double again, apart from the arm he should have. very annoying.

Should I send him a message of strength and encouragement?

Of strength? if the last thing he sent me before the operation was a running picture and he told me: see what rhythm I made !. He doesn’t need strength or encouragement, he’s on top.