Eight-time world champion Marquez experienced a challenging first half of the 2023 season, accruing a mere 15 points over eight rounds, which involved missing five races and experiencing 14 crashes.
These setbacks raised questions about his ongoing association with Honda. However, he indicated during the Silverstone event that he plans to honor his existing contract.
Adjusting his strategy this weekend, Marquez was not solely focused on achieving results but rather strived to establish a more robust base set-up on his RC213V. Consequently, this led to his modest 14th position in qualifying and 18th in the sprint.
Marquez ranked as high as 10th before being eliminated from the race in a regrettable encounter with Ducati’s Enea Bastianini. Despite this, Marquez believes his revised strategy has been advantageous.
“I’m pleased with today,” he shared on Sunday. “I’m content with this weekend because the aim was to regain some confidence and establish a foundation.
“I have regained confidence, but to establish that foundation, we need to compete in more races, experience different tracks, and tackle varied scenarios. But the weekend was strong, stable, and I maintained self-control.
“The approach this weekend was a departure from the norm. I disregarded times and other variables.
“I rode based on my intuition. If I didn’t feel comfortable, like in the sprint race, I didn’t push.
“If I felt comfortable, like today, I exerted more effort. My aim was to complete a crash-free weekend by not overexerting.
Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team
Photo by: Gold and Goose / F1 Flow Images
“Today’s crash wasn’t due to overexertion. I wasn’t operating beyond the bike’s capabilities. Therefore, this is the right strategy to establish a foundation.”
Discussing his Maggotts collision with Bastianini on the 15th lap, Marquez reveals he was attempting to prevent a crash when unexpected rain caught him off guard.
“I crashed during the race, but it was an unfortunate event that can occur in racing,” he stated further.
“I damaged the wing on the first lap, which significantly hampered my acceleration and made it quite challenging to halt the bike.
“But then I decided to stay composed and continue at my own pace, not exceeding what I achieved during the practice – mid 2m01s.
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“And then at one stage it began to drizzle a bit, Bastianini overtook me because I wasn’t willing to gamble in the rain.
“Earlier, I might have risked it, but not today. We reached Turns 10/11, and I noticed the track was wetter and began to skid slightly.
“I swerved to the left to avert a crash, but Bastianini experienced a minor incident and moved to the left.
“At that point, I didn’t have sufficient time to evade the situation. I think there was minimal contact with him. We crashed, but it’s not the type of crash that would undermine my confidence.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Marquez’s Confidence Regain
How has Marquez been performing in the 2023 MotoGP season?
Marquez has been struggling in the first half of the 2023 MotoGP season, with only 15 points from eight rounds and missing five races due to crashes. His performance led to doubts about his future at Honda.
What was Marquez’s strategy for the British GP?
Marquez adjusted his approach for the British GP. Instead of pushing for results, he focused on building a better base set-up for his RC213V. This resulted in his ranking 14th in qualifying and 18th in the sprint.
What was the result of Marquez’s race at the British GP?
Marquez was running as high as 10th before being eliminated from the race following a collision with Ducati’s Enea Bastianini. Despite this, Marquez feels his revised strategy has proven beneficial in rebuilding his confidence.
What does Marquez say about his crash with Bastianini?
Marquez describes the crash as an unfortunate racing incident. He was trying to prevent a crash in unexpected rainfall and damaged his wing on the first lap, which hampered his acceleration. Despite the crash, he did not feel it undermined his confidence.
What is Marquez’s plan moving forward after the British GP?
Marquez plans to continue with his adjusted approach to racing. His focus is not only on results but also on trying to build a more solid base with his Honda. His goal is to continue regaining his confidence and establish a strong foundation in upcoming races.
More about Marquez’s Confidence Regain
- Marc Marquez’s Career Highlights
- MotoGP 2023 Season
- Honda Racing Team
- British MotoGP Results
- Details About MotoGP Bikes
4 comments
I reckon Marquez’s got what it takes to come back, just needs some time, is all. The guy’s a world champ, after all!
wasn’t sure he’d make it this far, really. good to see him tryin to get his confidence back, though.
man, that crash with Bastianini tho… tough luck, mate.
It’s all about takin’ things slow and steady Marquez! We believe in ya!