Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez engaged in a thrilling battle for victory at the Spanish MotoGP on 28 April 2024. Despite finishing as the runner-up, Marquez had no issues with how the fight played out, praising Bagnaia’s aggressive yet fair defense. Marquez’s hopes for a win were dashed when he crashed during the Saturday Sprint due to a damp portion of the Jerez circuit. He acknowledged that his mistake from the previous day weighed heavily on him, causing him to lose his pole position at the start of the Grand Prix. However, Marquez managed to overtake Marco Bezzecchi and launch an attack on Bagnaia during the race. He reflected on the cautious start, stating that he had witnessed many crashes in Moto2 and wanted to avoid a similar fate. Despite his efforts, Marquez was content with his podium finish and admired Bagnaia’s performance, particularly his record-setting lap towards the end of the race.
“That initial maneuver was the moment to seize the victory, but he defended – assertively, yet in a commendable manner,” expressed Marquez.
“This is the essence of racing and he executed his strategy skillfully.
“I trailed behind him for an additional lap, causing the front tire temperature to rise, consequently making it impossible to brake forcefully. However, I must also acknowledge that he caught me off guard with his rapid lap times in the final two laps.”
Despite falling short of claiming the triumph, being in contention for the win was a significant milestone for Marquez, marking four years since his career-threatening injury at the Jerez circuit.
The decision of the eight-time Grand Prix champion to depart from Honda and join a satellite Ducati team this season was an affirmation of his ability to compete at the forefront of the grid, as he demonstrated on Sunday.
“I mean, my nightmare commenced four years ago,” he reflected.
“And it was an incredibly arduous journey. However, I am hopeful and optimistic that my second chance at life begins now.
“It’s undeniable that it was a nightmarish period, and we have yet to fully recover from that negative phase.
“But gradually, we are receiving positive and encouraging news.
“I express my gratitude to all those who have supported me immensely, including Honda for respecting my decision, as well as Gresini and Ducati for providing me with the opportunity to ride for them this year.
“I am relishing this experience and I am content. When I am content, I am swift.”