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Alex Marquez had bet a lot on transferring to the Gresini team’s Ducati, in order to turn a new page after his problems with the Honda. These last few races were affected by the injury he sustained in India and a few mistakes too many, but the outcome of the year is still positive, with the podium in Argentina and the victory in the Sprint Race at Silverstone. The future is also very interesting, with his brother Marc joining the team next year.
Alex spoke about it in an interview with his sponsor, Estrella Galicia, which you can watch above.
How are you doing after your rib fractures, five weeks after your fall at the Indian GP?
“I feel fine. I’d say at ninety percent, more or less. In the end, the problem isn’t only my ribs, but also my physical shape. It’s an injury that doesn’t allow you to train or do anything. You can’t move much, just from the sofa to the bed. I broke a fourth rib at home, while I was getting up, so it’s something to keep an eye on, but I think I’ve recovered almost one hundred percent from the injury, and I can’t wait to finish the season in the best way possible. Now that I’m in shape, I can concentrate one hundred percent on racing.”
What are your thoughts about your first season as a Ducati rider, and what are your expectations for the end of the season?
“This injury prevented me from having a good end of the season, but we still have three rounds left. In Thailand, we regained our confidence and also the speed that we wanted to finish the year with. So, Malaysia, Qatar, and Valencia will be key events to finish off in style. I hope that we’ll be able to get on the podium again, and then do the Valencia tests, where we’ll try to change our focus for next season. We know that 2024 will be an important year for everyone, because many contracts will be ending and, for me, starting off the right way will mean that the future can be good for us.”
What aspects of the Ducati have you found to be advantageous compared to your previous bike and which were more difficult to adapt to?
“The speed is there, especially after the Misano test, where we made some changes to the set-up. We started the year well but, at some point in the season, we got a bit stuck, so we made a pretty big change to the set-up. We had already introduced it in India, but I had the accident. Then it worked well in Australia and Thailand. It’s the set-up and the geometry of the bike that allow me to better apply my riding style, even if we still have to fine-tune some. I know I’m lacking a bit of my pace because of the injury, and that’s why I fell in the last race too. Racing without making mistakes will be essential in regaining my pace and get back up front.”
After weeks of rumors, it has been confirmed that you and your brother Marc will be teammates again in 2024, this time with Ducati. How did you experience all this, and what are you looking forward to next season?
“2024 looks good. We were together in 2020, but it didn’t last long because of his serious arm injury, but life sometimes gives you second chances, and I think this is a great opportunity. I think he’ll also feel comfortable, like I felt from the first moment. Of course, we joke with each other, the first about which side of the garage each of us will be on, but that’s already clear. He’s going to change sides and work on the left side. I told him that I’ve been with the team for a year and also Nadia, the owner of the team, has already told me, ‘You’ve been on the right side, and you’re not moving.’ Kidding aside, it’ll be a pivotal year for both of us. An important year because he’s eight-time world champion and will be in my same garage. I hope he’ll be fast soon because, the sooner he’s fast, the sooner I’ll take advantage of it. I can’t wait for him to test the bike and give his opinion. I know he’s a teammate. They say that a teammate is always your first rival. That’s true, but complicity and rivalry also help you progress.”
Can you imagine both of you fighting for the championship next year?
“I hope it’s going to be like that. For me, it’ll be a very important year. Like I said, the second with the same bike and the same team, so we have to try to do great things. I think I have the speed, I just have to get stronger and not make so many mistakes. If we can start the year well, why couldn’t we be fighting each other? I’m not saying much about the title, because a season is very long, and you have to balance many things, but I’d like be constantly in the top five and, at the end of the year, try to be in the top three in the championship.”
