MARQUEZ TRIES TO SILENCE THE BOO BRIGADE
World champ shrugs off cutting criticism to win in fine style
Marc Marquez was booed by fans, confronted by Valentino Rossi and docked three grid positions by race direction, but still showed his rivals just hiw good he is by clearing off into the distance at the American MotoGP round on Sunday.
The Repsol Honda man was at the centre of attention at the Circuit of the Americas after his antics in the last race in Argentina, where he bumped and barged his way through the field. He even took Rossi out in his desperation to get to the front.
He was determined not to get caught up in any such shenanigans this time out. But a run-in with Yamaha’s Maverick Viñales in qualifying, for which he was moved back three spaces on the grid, strengthend his resolve in the race. Marquez explained his game plan. “Normally I wait behind someone and attack at the end because that makes the race feel shorter. But honestly after what happened in Argentina I changed my strategy and led from the start. “I was so focused and I felt a special motivation. I felt a different type of pressure, but I liked it!” Marquez has dominated at the Circuit of the Americas since taking his first victory in the premier class there back in 2013 and the Spaniard barely put a foot wrong all weekend. He burst into the lead right from the off to deliver the first victory for Honda’s new carbon fibre swingarm. Showing the improved pace of the 2018 RC213V Honda, especially on the long straights after struggling for power in recent seasons, he says that the feeling he has with the bike is better than ever
“Now I feel really sweet with the bike and with the team. Last year, I started to feel that way with the bike after Barcelona in June but this year I’ve felt like that from the start. Last year was the first time in Austin that I started the race not being sure that I could win, but this year I was convinced beforehand because it was clear that the pace was there.”
He might not go back to Europe as the championship leader, but that’s not bothering Marquez too much. Sitting only one point behind championship leader Andrea Dovizioso, he says he feels like he’s got it all under control.
“It’s important to get near to the top of the championship after zero points in Argentina. Now it’s important that we recapture that feeling at the European tracks.”
‘Normally I attack at the end but I changed my strategy’