Marc Márquez: “In the Last Races, We Were Two and Three Steps Behind; In This Race, We’re One Step Behind”
Marc Márquez, the eight-time World Champion, has always been known for his relentless pursuit of perfection and his never-say-die attitude on the track. This mindset has led him to numerous victories and a reputation as one of MotoGP’s greatest riders. However, the 2023 season has been a challenging one for the Repsol Honda rider, who has faced a series of setbacks, both personal and technical.
After enduring multiple injuries and surgeries in recent years, Márquez has been struggling to find the form that once made him a dominant force in the MotoGP paddock. The 2023 season has been particularly tough, with Márquez often finding himself far from the podium and contending with a bike that hasn’t been as competitive as his rivals’ machines.
Following a particularly grueling string of races where Márquez and the Honda team seemed to be lagging significantly, the Catalan rider expressed a mix of frustration and cautious optimism after a recent race where he felt a slight improvement in performance.
“In the last races, I felt that we were two and three steps behind; in this race, we’re one step behind,” Márquez said, reflecting on the progress made. His statement encapsulates the sense of incremental improvement that has been hard-earned by the team, as they work tirelessly to close the gap with the leading manufacturers like Ducati and Yamaha.
This admission highlights the difficulties Márquez has faced not only in adapting to the ever-evolving MotoGP grid but also in dealing with a Honda RC213V that has not quite lived up to expectations. The bike, which once dominated the field, has struggled with handling and power delivery issues, leaving Márquez and his teammates often fighting for positions outside the top five.
However, for Márquez, known for his resilience and ability to push beyond limits, even a small step forward is a reason to remain hopeful. “We’re not where we want to be yet, but the team is working hard, and we’re starting to see some improvements. It’s important to stay focused and keep pushing,” he added.
The road to full recovery and returning to the top step of the podium is still long, but Márquez’s determination is undiminished. He acknowledges the reality of the situation—that they are still a step behind—but this also signals that progress is being made. For a rider of Márquez’s caliber, even the smallest gains are crucial in the quest to return to the front of the pack.
As the season progresses, the MotoGP community will be closely watching whether Márquez and Honda can continue to bridge the gap and once again challenge for victories. His recent performance suggests that while the journey is far from over, the steps being taken are in the right direction, fueling hopes that the Márquez of old might soon return to full force.
