Marc Marquez Ends Long Victory Drought with ‘Perfect’ Performance at Aragon MotoGP

Marc Marquez admitted that he "put pressure on himself" to achieve a "flawless" performance during the Aragon MotoGP weekend.

"I didn't have fun in the Sprint race because I was aware of how crucial today was," he said.

After nearly three years without a win, Marc Marquez clinched a victory at last weekend’s Aragon MotoGP, a triumph he labeled as "perfect".

Marquez led all three practice rounds, secured the pole position with a 0.8-second advantage, dominated the Sprint race, and finished the Grand Prix on Sunday five seconds ahead of Jorge Martin.

Marquez did not post a lap time during the Warm Up, which was the only session he didn't lead. This session took place on a track that was damp due to rain from Saturday night through Sunday morning.

"We had an ideal weekend," Marquez mentioned during the press conference after the race. "We were ahead in all the sessions, except for the Warm Up, where I chose with my team to remain in the garage."

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

"We had an incredible feeling throughout the race from the start," he remarked. "The race was extremely long, and managing emotions in the final laps was tough, but crossing the finish line felt like I shed 3-4kg."

“Due to the increasing weight on my back with each step, achieving this victory felt amazing. Instantly, my mind went to the entire journey we went through, thinking of all the people who supported me, including my family, my girlfriend, and my brother, Alex Marquez.

"They provided significant assistance, with the Gresini team in particular offering me a chance. I started as a novice rider, gave it my all, and we succeeded. We've set a new goal and are continuing forward."

Marquez established a significant lead during the race, allowing him to contemplate various matters in the closing laps.

"In the final three laps, I was already thinking about the podium," he remarked. "Beyond just the podium, the Gresini garage is always lively and cheerful; it's constantly a party atmosphere there."

"Additionally, the most important factor was the people surrounding me. In extremely challenging circumstances, being in a tough spot, having a team of genuinely kind and compassionate individuals who were suffering even more than I was made all the difference."

"The celebration felt unusual because in past races, the adrenaline was stronger when I secured second or third places. Today, it was more about emotion rather than adrenaline."

After leading every session except the rainy Sunday morning Warm Up, Marquez acknowledged feeling some pressure to cap off his weekend with a win in the Grand Prix.

"I felt a lot of pressure today," he mentioned. "In the Sprint yesterday, it was clear I wasn't having a good time because I was aware of how crucial today would be and recognized the significant opportunity ahead."

"Therefore, I made an effort to stay concentrated. When you possess speed, it appears that you can control the circumstances, maintain consistency, and act wisely; however, if you lack speed, handling the situation becomes extremely challenging."

“Let’s aim to improve our speed in the upcoming races and try to stay competitive with the leading racers.”

Marquez views this victory on par with his win at the 2021 German Grand Prix, which marked his comeback after suffering a broken arm at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix.

Marquez stated, "I consider it to be on the same level as the 2021 race in Germany."

"When a team is dealing with numerous injuries, achieving victories holds a different kind of significance."

"I did win 60 times, but those two wins, along with my first MotoGP victory, are the most significant. They boost your confidence differently and provide that extra assurance."

"I hadn't felt well for quite a while, and the laps this weekend were brief. I was simply riding along effortlessly, in a smooth flow, but I was also very focused on avoiding any errors."

Despite this being Marquez's 12th race weekend with the Gresini Ducati squad, he mentioned that he had believed a win was achievable ever since he first rode the Desmosedici during the Valencia test at the close of 2023.

During the Valencia test, Marquez came to the conclusion that a race victory was within reach. He stated, "I understood that we will have our chances there. However, competing for the championship is another matter, and for that, we must continue to put in the effort."

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

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