Marc Marquez has decided to stop fighting for every single point and focus only on what he needs to win. The Ducati rider holds a massive lead and knows exactly how to close out the season. He plans to visit the track in Portugal in two weeks to seal the deal. Marquez admitted he already started this calm approach during the last race in Qatar. He saw that Marco Bezzecchi was much faster and knew pushing harder would bring too much danger.
Bezzecchi won the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday while Marquez finished second. The Italian rider led every lap and crossed the line more than three seconds ahead. Marquez dropped to fourth at one point but fought back to take the runner-up spot. Marquez’s runner-up spot means the title fight is not over yet, but the end is near. Marquez now holds a 60-point lead over Jorge Martin and a 74-point advantage over Bezzecchi. The math is simple for the Spaniard as he heads to the next round.
A New Mindset for the Final Stretch
The champion-elect wants to avoid the risks that could cost him the title. He explained his new routine in a press conference after the Qatar race. “It’s time to go home, be super concentrated and just train, eat, sleep, repeat. Like this until Portimao,” he said, according to Motorsport.com. This simple plan replaces the aggressive style he used earlier in the year. Marquez knows the track in Portugal has cold and tricky conditions that could cause crashes. He does not need to win the sprint race to take the crown. A mid-pack finish might be enough if his rivals do not score well.
Jorge Martin tried to push hard during the sprint race but could not pass Marquez. During their battle, Martin observed that Marc had his airbag activated while riding. “He wasn’t losing much ground, but I told myself that it was now or never,” Martin recounted in his Spanish press debrief, according to Motorsport.com. Even with the injured wrist, Martin managed to take third place in the sprint. His effort kept the pressure on, but the gap remains too large for a comeback. Martin still needs a miracle from both Marquez and Bezzecchi to win the championship.
Family Support and the Road Ahead
Marquez does not have his brother Alex to help him on the track this weekend. Alex underwent surgery to remove a plate from his right collarbone after a crash in Barcelona. Marc defended Alex’s choice to stay back during the Malaysia Grand Prix. “Alex has done a great job in the second half of the season, in the last few races,” Marquez said, according to Motorsport.com. He joked that his brother would be a “bad brother” if he tried to crash into him for the title. Alex finished third in Malaysia but his shoulder issues ruled him out of the Qatar GP.
The factory Ducati rider does not feel he needs a wingman to win the title. “When you have the speed, you don’t need wingmen, team orders or anything,” he said. He knows the numbers and the path to the championship. He needs to score eight more points than Martin and 30 more than Bezzecchi to secure the win. The series returns to Europe for the Portuguese Grand Prix in two weeks. Marquez will surely secure the title with a Saturday sprint victory at Portimao.
