Marc Márquez: "I have felt a step forward in my physical condition"

MADRID, 13 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish MotoGP rider Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda) celebrated this Thursday having noticed "a step forward" in his physical condition ahead of the Australian Grand Prix this weekend where he hopes to feel good to also improve "at the level of performance ", although he believes that, "theoretically", because of how his bike currently performs, they will "suffer a lot" at Phillip Island.

"I have felt a step forward in my physical condition because after Thailand I had to take some time to recover, but now it seems that the muscles are evolving correctly. I felt a step forward and if I feel it here in Australia, I will also feel a step forward at the acting level", Márquez admitted at a press conference.

If this happens, the one from Cervera will try to "approach the weekend with the same strategy as in Thailand because it is the way to improve." "There I was lucky that the race was wet and I did not feel limitations, but I have recharged the batteries and I feel good, then we will see why sometimes you want to drive fast, but it is not possible because the sensations are not positive", he warned. .

For the eight-time world champion, "it's fantastic to return to Australia" and to one of his "favorite" circuits, although he knows that at Phillip Island "you have to start off on the right foot because if for some reason you don't drive well it's going to cost you a lot and It will get more and more difficult for you." "Also, it looks like conditions are going to be complex," he stressed.

The Australian track will not require him so much at the braking level, a point in which he clarified that it has not gone "badly" neither in Japan nor in Thailand. "I was able to do these last two races as normal. This is about if you find a way to flow you can do a lot of flowing laps," he said.

“The new Honda leaves me a bit confused because when I expect that I am going to have a lot of difficulties, suddenly we are better at it. Theoretically, we are going to struggle a bit here, but it is one of my favorite circuits and we will start with a positive mentality.” Marquez continued.

In this sense, the Repsol Honda rider confirmed that during this weekend they are going to "try some things for the future". "This is going to affect how the weekend plays out a little bit, but it's time to do it," he said.

On the other hand, Márquez confessed that he had had "many calls" with former Australian Honda driver Mick Doohan during this last season complicated by his injury. "Especially before the fourth operation because I had many doubts and one piece of advice that he gave me, because he experienced a similar situation with his leg, was that he told me that perhaps I would never drive like before, but that I could do it in a different way and be competitive," he said.

"It's what I'm trying to do. In Thailand I took a step forward and these three races are important, but the most important thing will be next winter where I have to train well and fix everything to be competitive in 2023. The future will put everything in their place," Márquez stressed.

The Spaniard was accompanied at the press conference by his compatriot Izan Guevara (GasGas), who this Sunday could be proclaimed Moto3 world champion. "Two days ago we were in the same restaurant and I told him why he was so nervous in Thailand. What he has to do is follow his instinct because then it will be fast. It's not the last race and he will have many chances to win the title, which Enjoy this moment, you will be a great driver in the future in higher categories," he said.

As for the fight for the MotoGP title, with Frenchman Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Italian Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati) separated by two points, he said he would prefer to be in the former's position. "It means you have more opportunities, but in this second part of the season 'Pecco' and the Ducati have been the strongest. Phillip Island will be crucial for Fabio," he remarked.