Marc Marquez Ends Victory Drought with Perfect Aragon MotoGP Weekend: ‘I Put Pressure on Myself’

Marc Marquez admitted that he "put pressure on himself" to achieve a "flawless" performance at the Aragon MotoGP weekend. He mentioned that during the Sprint, he didn't have much fun as he was aware of the significance of the day.

Last weekend at the Aragon MotoGP, Marc Marquez broke his nearly three-year streak without a win, celebrating what he called a "perfect" weekend.

Marquez led each of the three practice sessions, secured pole position with a lead of 0.8 seconds, dominated the Sprint race, and finished the Grand Prix on Sunday five seconds ahead of Jorge Martin.

Marquez did not record a lap time during the Warm Up, which remained wet due to rain from Saturday night into Sunday morning, making it the only session he did not lead.

In the post-race press conference, Marquez described the weekend as flawless. He mentioned that they dominated every session, except for the Warm Up, where he and the team opted to remain in the garage.

Marquez discussed the emotional tension he experienced during the nearly three-year period without a win and the relief he felt when he crossed the finish line to claim his 60th top-tier victory.

"In the race, we felt incredible right from the start," he mentioned. "The race was extremely long and managing our emotions in the final laps was tough, but crossing the finish line felt like shedding 3–4kg."

"With each step, the burden on my back grew heavier, making this victory even more remarkable. Instantly, my mind turned to the entire journey we undertook, the supportive individuals surrounding me, and my loved ones—my family, my girlfriend, and my brother Alex Marquez."

"The support I received was immense, particularly from the Gresini team who offered me a chance. I came in as a newcomer, determined to give my all, and we succeeded. We've set new goals and will continue to push forward."

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

"In the final three laps, I was already thinking about the podium," he remarked. "But more than the podium, it's the Gresini garage that stands out. It's always a lively and joyful place, like a constant celebration."

"Additionally, the most important factor was the support from the people around me. In times of severe hardship, having a compassionate and empathetic team—individuals who were more affected by the situation than I was—made all the difference."

"The celebration felt unusual since the adrenaline levels were higher in other races where we celebrated second or third places. Today, it was more about the emotion than the adrenaline."

After leading every session except for the rainy Sunday morning Warm Up, Marquez confessed that he was under some pressure to finish his weekend by winning the Grand Prix.

“Today, I felt the need to push myself,” he stated. “As you observed in the Sprint yesterday, I wasn’t having a good time because I was aware that today would be significant and that I had a crucial chance ahead of me.

"That's why I aimed to stay concentrated. When you have the pace, it seems like you can handle everything, stay consistent, and make smart decisions; but you're actually the same person. Without the speed, it's extremely tough to control the situation."

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

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

“I consider it to be on the same level as the 2021 event in Germany,” Marquez remarked.

“When facing numerous injuries and a challenging period, the significance of the victories changes.”

Indeed, I have won 60 races, but those two wins, along with my first victory in MotoGP, are the most significant. They instill a unique sense of confidence and provide an extra boost of self-assurance.

"I hadn't felt well for a long period, and the laps this weekend were brief. I was simply riding; it felt effortless as I went with the flow, but I was especially focused on avoiding any errors."

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

“In the Valencia test, I understood that a race victory is on the horizon,” Marquez stated. “At that moment, I recognized that we will have our chances. Competing for the championship, however, requires continued effort.”

“However, during my time in Valencia, I began to realize that it would eventually come.”

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