Marc Marquez Triumphs at Aragon: Ends Three-Year Victory Drought with Perfect Weekend

Marc Marquez said he "put pressure on myself" to achieve a "perfect" Aragon MotoGP weekend. "I didn't enjoy the Sprint because I knew today was a crucial day," he explained.

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

Marquez led every practice session, secured pole position with a 0.8-second advantage, claimed a commanding victory in the Sprint, and finished the Grand Prix on Sunday five seconds ahead of Jorge Martin.

Marquez didn't post a lap time during the Warm Up session, which was damp due to rain from Saturday night into Sunday morning, making it the only session he didn't lead.

“It was an ideal weekend,” Marquez said at the post-race press conference. “We were ahead in all the sessions, except for the Warm Up, where I chose 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 crossed the finish line to secure his 60th victory in the premier class.

"In the race, we felt incredible right from the start," he stated. "It was an extremely long race, and managing our emotions in the final laps was tough. However, crossing the finish line felt like shedding 3-4 kilograms."

"Due to the increasing weight on my back with each step, winning felt unbelievable. Instantly, my thoughts turned to all the efforts we made, the people who supported me, and my family, including my girlfriend and my brother, Alex Marquez."

"They provided me with significant support, particularly the Gresini team who offered me the chance. I went into it as a new rider, gave it my all, and we succeeded. Now, we set a new goal and continue to move forward."

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

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

"Besides that, the most important factor was the support from those around me. In times of great difficulty, when you find yourself in a very challenging situation, having a compassionate and caring team who are more affected by your struggles than you are can make all the difference."

"The celebration felt quite unusual because, in other races, the adrenaline was much higher when we were rejoicing over second or third places. Today, it was more about the emotions rather than the adrenaline."

Marquez acknowledged that he felt some pressure to finish the weekend with a win in the Grand Prix, especially after leading every session except for the rainy Sunday morning Warm Up.

"Today, I felt a lot of self-imposed pressure," he stated. "As you observed in the Sprint yesterday, I wasn't having fun because I was aware that today was crucial and I had a significant chance ahead of me."

"That's why I aimed to stay focused. When you're fast, it seems like you can handle things well, stay consistent, and make smart decisions. But you're essentially the same; without 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 racers."

Having secured this win, Marquez places it on par with his success at the 2021 German Grand Prix, which marked his initial victory following his arm injury at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix.

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

"When you're dealing with numerous injuries and facing a challenging period, the significance of your wins changes."

While I did win 60 times, those two wins, along with my first MotoGP victory, stand out as the most significant. They boost your confidence in a unique way and provide that extra assurance.

"I hadn't been feeling well for a while, and the laps this weekend were brief. I was simply riding, it felt effortless, I was in the zone but I remained highly focused to avoid any errors."

Despite it being Marquez's 12th race weekend with the Gresini Ducati squad, he revealed 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.

“In the Valencia test, I understood that a victory is within reach,” Marquez stated. “I saw that we will have our chances. Competing for the championship is another matter; we have to continue our efforts for that.”

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

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