Marc Marquez’s Aragon Triumph: A Turning Point Towards 2024 MotoGP Title Ambitions?

Marc Marquez Overcomes Jerez 2020 Heartache with Stunning Performance in Aragon

Is Marc Marquez Ready to Compete for the 2024 MotoGP Championship?

On a chilly and blustery 28 November 2023, journalists gather in the pitlane of the Ricardo Tormo Circuit. Despite the championship being settled only two days earlier, the MotoGP press corps has shifted its focus and stands resolutely in the cold outside the Gresini Racing garage.

Marc Marquez is eagerly anticipating his initial laps on the Ducati MotoGP bike that he will be riding in 2024, and the world is on edge: this is possibly one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the premier class, and undoubtedly the most crucial event in Marquez's career.

Following his initial ride on the bike, a grin reappeared on his face. The difficulties of the 2023 season, where he struggled with a Honda that seemed more intent on defeating him, swiftly faded. Importantly, this ride marked the instant he realized he had the potential to triumph in MotoGP once more.

"During the Valencia test, I came to understand that it would happen," he stated following Sunday's Aragon Grand Prix.

Marquez chose to end his profitable factory Honda contract a year ahead of schedule to ride a 2023-spec Ducati with Gresini. This decision was driven by his desire to find out if he can rekindle his passion for racing.

The RC213V from that year is considered one of the poorest performing bikes to ever compete, and it drained Marquez's confidence completely. He mentioned that continuing with Honda seemed like the straightforward choice, but it was probably a path that would result in him retiring early.

Ultimately, he endured extreme physical hardship starting in 2020 to return to the competitive form that earned him six top-tier world championships within seven years, from his 2013 debut to 2019.

The severe break to his right upper arm at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix drastically altered the course of his MotoGP career. That year, he underwent three surgeries to fix the damage.

Although he managed to secure victories in three races during 2021 while riding a Honda, it was evident that his arm remained a significant hindrance. This would be the case for anyone whose arm was over 30 degrees out of its normal position.

A significant fourth surgery took place in the summer of 2022. He returned to top form, but Honda did not keep pace.

Before this year’s Aragon Grand Prix, Marquez had achieved nine podium finishes in total, but he had yet to secure his first victory on the Desmosedici.

Right from the start of practice on the newly resurfaced and low-grip Aragon track, Marquez appeared to be back in top form. He led both sessions on Friday, clocked the fastest time in the third practice, and secured the pole position with ease. Marquez then went on to comfortably win the first sprint race, finishing 3.3 seconds ahead of Jorge Martin.

He dominated the entire race from the pole position, ultimately defeating Martin by 4.789 seconds to secure his first Sunday victory since the 2021 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, marking the 60th win of his career.

The event also signifies the 30th occasion on counterclockwise tracks, which has played a crucial role in what crew chief Frankie Carchedi described as Marquez's "masterclass."

### Marquez's Mastery at Aragon

Shifting track conditions due to intermittent rain throughout the weekend posed a constant challenge for riders each time they left the pitlane.

Marquez's knack for sensing track conditions more acutely than anyone else, along with his quickness in left-hand turns—especially through Turns 9 and 10, the latter of which bears his name—formed a powerful mix. Data indicated that he was leaning into these turns four or five degrees more than his competitors.

This was important because the soft rear tyre was removed from the selection due to the new surface causing it to overheat, which meant everyone had to use the medium rear tyre.

Several riders were observed having difficulty gaining grip while exiting left-hand turns during the sighting lap, as the left side of their tires required more time to heat up. Marquez, however, did not face this issue.

At the beginning of the third lap out of 23, Marquez had already built a two-second lead over the rest of the riders. This advantage was helped by the battle for second place between Martin and Tech3’s Pedro Acosta. After breaking free from the tussle, Martin managed to gain momentum, clocking the fastest lap of 1m48.365s on the third lap, surpassing Marquez's time.

However, Marquez faced no pressure from his competitors. On the ninth lap, he clocked in with an impressive 1 minute and 48.186 seconds, reclaiming the fastest lap. During that same lap, Martin recorded a time of 1 minute and 48.417 seconds. Marquez continued to maintain a strong pace, achieving lap times in the 1 minute and 48-second range up until the 19th lap, whereas Martin's speed had slowed to 1 minute and 49.668 seconds.

A minor choice made by #93 on Sunday morning turned out to be vital. During the warm-up session, the track was wet. Marquez completed only a single lap before heading back to the pit lane, choosing not to record a time.

He felt so confident in his performance on the dry track with his Ducati that he worried about confusing things by also trying to learn how to ride on a wet track.

Though it may appear minor, this detail underscores the "pressure" Marquez felt leading up to the grand prix. After his victory, he remarked, "I knew today was crucial."

Although he was confident in his ability to win a race in 2024, many were surprised that it hadn't happened before the 12th round of the season. The difference between the GP24 and GP23 models turned out to be more significant than anticipated, and it seems he has only recently accepted this reality.

Upon crossing the finish line, Marquez triumphantly displayed his arm muscles over his Gresini-run GP23 motorcycle. This celebration mirrored his victory at the 2021 Emilia Romagna GP, which occurred 1,043 days earlier, where he had struck the same pose, but only with his still-healing left arm. This gesture was a tribute to that past moment and symbolized that the events of Jerez 2020 were finally behind him. Consequently, his triumph at the 2024 Aragon GP holds a particularly meaningful place in his personal list of victories.

Marquez mentioned that he considers it to be on par with 2021 in Germany.

He mentioned that he has been tackling 2024 "with a beginner's mindset," gradually gaining confidence on the Ducati after spending 11 years on a Honda. Right from the start of this season, it was evident that he had significant potential. This was convincing enough for Ducati to disrupt its entire system to elevate him to its official team for 2025.

Aragon, however, seems to be the point where 'the true' Marc Marquez made his return. Nevertheless, he has warned that this should not be considered his new standard.

A total of 296 points remain available in the 2024 championship race. Martin currently leads by 23 points ahead of Francesco Bagnaia. This comes after Bagnaia's tough weekend culminated in a late crash caused by Alex Marquez, further dampening the reigning champion's spirits.

Marquez trails Martin by 70 points at this point in the season. Although he's still in contention mathematically, there are several favorable tracks for Marquez in the latter part of the season where he could increase his number of victories.

However, does he truly believe he is in the running for the championship?

On Sunday, he responded by saying, "No, we are still a long way off."

This aligns closely with his mindset regarding 2024. However, what are his thoughts on 2025?

Marquez's closest competitors can find some comfort in knowing that the unusual conditions at Aragon, which greatly influenced the track's state, contributed to his complete control over the weekend.

At the moment, it stands as an exception in his performance record, which has generally placed him among the top three fastest riders currently. However, he remains slightly behind the pace set by Martin and Bagnaia.

With that in mind, he's now unrestrained. He has demonstrated to himself that he still has the ability to win and can achieve it on a different motorcycle. His grasp of the Ducati has reached a point where he is extracting its maximum potential.

Should he secure a few additional victories by the season's end, it will certainly be beneficial for him. However, no matter how his competitors frame the 2024 Aragon GP, they will all approach Misano with some apprehension about what lies ahead…

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