Marc Marquez Breaks Three-Year Drought with ‘Perfect’ Aragon MotoGP Weekend

Marc Marquez admitted that he "put a lot of pressure on himself" to achieve a flawless performance during the Aragon MotoGP weekend. He mentioned that during the Sprint, he wasn't having fun because he was aware of the significance of the day.

Marc Marquez broke his nearly three-year streak without a win last weekend at the Aragon MotoGP, a race he later called "perfect".

Marquez led all three practice sessions, secured pole position with a margin of 0.8 seconds, triumphed decisively in the Sprint, and finished the Grand Prix on Sunday five seconds ahead of Jorge Martin.

The only session not led by Marquez was the Warm Up, which was damp due to rain that fell overnight from Saturday into Sunday morning, as he did not record a lap time.

“It was an ideal weekend,” Marquez said during the press conference after the race. “We were ahead in all the sessions, except for the Warm Up, where I chose with the team to remain in the garage.”

Marquez expressed the emotional tension that had accumulated over nearly three years without a win, and described the sense of relief he experienced when he crossed the finish line to secure his 60th victory in the premier class.

"In the competition, we experienced a fantastic sensation right from the start," he mentioned. "The race was extremely lengthy, and it was challenging to keep emotions in check during the final laps, but crossing the finish line felt like I had shed 3-4 kilograms."

"Due to the increasing weight on my back with each step, winning this was unbelievable. Instantly, my thoughts turned to the entire journey we've been through, the support from everyone around me, my family, my girlfriend, and my brother, Alex Marquez."

"They supported me significantly, and the Gresini team, in particular, provided me with the chance. As a newcomer, I aimed to give my all, and we succeeded. We've set a new goal and will continue to push forward."

Marquez gained a significant lead during the race, allowing him to ponder various thoughts in the closing laps.

"In the final three laps, my thoughts were already on the podium," he remarked. "But beyond the podium, the atmosphere in the Gresini garage is always lively and joyful; it's always a celebration with them."

"Additionally, the primary factor was the individuals surrounding me. In extremely challenging circumstances, if you're deeply struggling and lack a compassionate and supportive team—people who are more affected by the situation than yourself—that truly makes a significant difference."

"It was quite an unusual celebration. In other races, the adrenaline was higher, even when celebrating second or third places. Today, it was more about emotion than adrenaline."

Having led in every session except the rain-affected Warm Up on Sunday morning, Marquez acknowledged that he was under some pressure to finish his weekend with a win in the Grand Prix.

"I felt a lot of pressure today," he stated. "As you observed in yesterday's Sprint, I wasn't having a good time because I was aware that today was crucial and that I had a significant chance ahead of me."

"That's why I aimed to stay concentrated. If you have the speed, it seems like you can handle things well, remain steady, and act wisely; but you're the same person, it's just that without the speed, managing the situation becomes extremely challenging."

"Let's aim to improve our speed in the upcoming races and strive to stay competitive with the leading contenders."

Marquez sees this victory as comparable to his 2021 German Grand Prix win, which marked his first triumph since fracturing his arm at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix.

Marquez remarked, "I would rank it on the same level as the 2021 event in Germany."

"When dealing with numerous injuries and challenging times, the significance of victories changes."

“Although I've won 60 times, those two wins, along with my first MotoGP victory, are the most significant because they boost your confidence in a unique way and provide that additional assurance."

"I hadn’t felt well for quite a while, and the laps this weekend were brief. I was merely riding effortlessly, staying in the zone, but I was also highly focused on avoiding any errors."

Despite it being Marquez's 12th race weekend with the Gresini Ducati team, he mentioned that he had believed in the possibility of winning ever since he first rode the Desmosedici during the Valencia test at the close of 2023.

During the Valencia test, Marquez acknowledged that a race victory is on the horizon. He recognized that opportunities will come their way. However, he noted that contending for the championship requires continued effort.

"However, while in Valencia, I began to realize that it would eventually happen."

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