Marc Marquez Ends Nearly Three-Year Drought with ‘Perfect’ Victory at Aragon MotoGP

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

"I couldn't enjoy the Sprint because I was aware of the significance of today," he said.

Marc Marquez broke his nearly three-year streak without a win by triumphing in last weekend's Aragon MotoGP, a result he called "perfect" after an exceptional weekend.

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

The only session that Marquez did not lead was the Warm Up, which took place on a wet track due to rain from Saturday night continuing into Sunday morning, as he did not record a lap time.

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

Marquez discussed the emotional journey of nearly three years without a win and the sense of relief he experienced when he finally crossed the finish line to secure his 60th victory in the premier class.

"We had an incredible sensation right from the start of the race," he remarked. "The race was extremely long, and it was challenging to keep our emotions in check during the final laps. However, when I finally crossed the finish line, it felt as though I had shed 3–4 kilograms."

"Due to the increasing strain on my back with each step, winning felt unbelievable. Instantly, I began to reflect on the entire journey, the people who supported me, and my family, including my girlfriend and my brother, Alex Marquez."

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

During the race, Marquez gained a significant lead, allowing him to reflect on things in the closing laps.

"In the final three laps, I was already thinking about the podium," he mentioned. "But more than the podium, the atmosphere in the Gresini garage is always lively and cheerful; it's always a celebration there."

"Additionally, the people surrounding me played a crucial role. In times of extreme difficulty, being in a challenging situation, having a compassionate and supportive team who are even more affected than I am made all the difference."

"The celebration felt quite unusual because, in past races, the adrenaline was much higher even when finishing in second or third place. Today, it was more about emotion than adrenaline."

Marquez confessed to feeling some pressure to secure a Grand Prix win after leading in all sessions except for the rainy Warm Up on Sunday morning.

"I felt a lot of pressure today," he remarked. "If you noticed during the Sprint yesterday, I wasn't having a good time because I was aware of how crucial today would be, and I understood that I had a significant chance ahead of me."

"That's why I aimed to stay concentrated. When you possess the speed, it appears that you can handle things well, remain steady, and act wisely. However, you're essentially the same person; it's just that without the speed, managing the situation becomes extremely challenging."

"Let's aim for improved speed in the upcoming races and strive to be competitive with the leading racers."

Marquez regards this victory as being on a par with his win at the 2021 German Grand Prix, which marked his first triumph since suffering an arm injury at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix.

"I consider it to be on par with the 2021 race in Germany," Marquez commented.

"When you're dealing with numerous injuries and facing tough times, the significance of each win changes."

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

"I hadn't felt well for a while, and the laps this weekend were brief. I was simply riding with ease, in a good rhythm, but I stayed very focused to avoid any errors."

Despite being only his 12th race weekend with the Gresini Ducati team, Marquez revealed that he had believed winning was achievable ever since he first rode the Desmosedici during the Valencia test at the close of 2023.

During the Valencia test, Marquez mentioned that he became confident a race victory was within reach. He acknowledged that they would have their chances. However, he noted that competing for the championship is a different matter and emphasized the need to continue working towards that goal.

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

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