Marc Marquez has admitted that mistakes from his MotoGP title rivals have helped fuel his remarkable championship comeback, describing their errors as a “present” that he is more than happy to accept.
The factory Ducati rider took advantage of another chaotic San Marino Grand Prix to claim his fifth victory in seven races and move to the top of the championship standings.
Marquez is now level with Aprilia’s Jorge Martin on 274 points, but leads the standings on countback thanks to his greater number of race wins.
His position at the top looked almost unthinkable just a few months ago. When Marquez returned from injury at Mugello, he was 102 points behind the championship leader and was not expecting to immediately become a serious title contender.
Since then, his form has transformed the championship. Marquez has combined strong pace, experience and technical understanding with a run of consistent results, while his main rivals have struggled to match that consistency.
The latest example came at Misano, where polesitter Marco Bezzecchi crashed out of the lead on the opening lap. Martin then looked capable of challenging Marquez for victory before an arm pump problem caused his pace to collapse, eventually dropping him to fifth.
Marquez knows those setbacks have played into his hands.
Source: Crash.net
“I was ready to ride at Mugello, not at my 100%, but it was also to prepare to have some chance to win races,” he said. “I was not thinking about the championship because it was not in my hands.”
“It's true that the opponents give me the present. And when I tasted that present, it was sweet.”
Rather than allowing those opportunities to pass, Marquez has consistently capitalised on them. His San Marino victory was the latest example, with the Ducati rider taking control after Bezzecchi’s crash and managing the race without allowing his rivals back into contention.
The result has completely changed the complexion of the championship. Marquez entered the latter part of the season facing a sizeable points deficit, but now sits at the top with momentum firmly on his side.
For Marquez, however, the key is not simply benefiting from his rivals’ mistakes. He believes he must continue making the most of his Ducati, his riding style and the support of his team.
“So I'm trying to take the maximum profit from my riding style, from my bike and from my team,” he added.
With Martin still level on points and Bezzecchi remaining within striking distance despite his Misano retirement, the title fight is far from over. But after erasing a 102-point deficit in just seven races, Marquez has put himself in a position few would have expected earlier in the season.
The “present” from his rivals may have helped him get there, but Marquez has made sure he has taken full advantage of every opportunity.
