Marquez: “You don’t have the same mentality at 20 as you do at 30…”

Since his heavy fall at the 2020 Spanish GP, Marc Marquez has had highs, but mostly lows. Still weakened by his arm at the start of the year, the Spaniard decided to put his season on hold to undergo a fourth operation, one that many describe as a last chance intervention. 

A few days ago, Marquez underwent an important medical examination at the end of which he obtained the green light from the doctors to intensify his training, but also to get back on the bike to assess his condition. His return to the helm of a MotoGP is only a matter of weeks... In the meantime, HRC (Honda Racing Corporation) has unveiled the first episode of a documentary series on Honda and the official team. 

This first part, filmed on the occasion of the Austrian GP, is devoted to Marquez who does not hesitate to confide. “I came here to play a different role, in a different mindset, to try to help the team, do my meetings with the HRC engineers, then go home on Friday afternoon, because I have to continue my recovery, but also because I don't want to be on a circuit without riding," explains Marquez about his presence at the Red Bull Ring almost 90 days after his last appearance on a circuit at Mugello. 

Even if Marquez had another hat in Austria than that of driver, he obviously had this desire to get back on the track. “When you are at home, you of course have this feeling of wanting to ride, but you can control it,” he emphasizes. But there, you hear the noise, you see the team, the bike... It makes you nervous, especially from the inside, because in the end it's your bike. She wears another number, Stefan Bradl’s, but it’s yours…”

Since the Qatar GP with Pol Espargaro's third place, no Honda representative has appeared on the podium, i.e. 12 races in a row without a Top 3, a (sad) record for the most successful firm in the history of the premier category. “Everyone is giving 100%, but the situation is difficult,” says Marquez. The most important thing is to keep everyone motivated. It's very complicated to evaluate new things during a weekend, because you have to find the settings, try the tires, see if the conditions change... So it's hard to test a new chassis, a new swingarm or a new part. »

Another way to face fear

It is often said that when a pilot starts to feel afraid, it is time for him to hang up his leathers. If Marquez admits to wanting to take the same risks on his return to the handlebars of his RC213V, he does not hide having been afraid for his future, but these two years have allowed him to change. The youngest world champion in the premier category in history at 20 years and 266 days, he is slowly approaching his 30th birthday. “There's a clear difference between the fear you might feel over a weekend and the fear about your future,” he says. You know this weekend will pass. I never really had that fear, because you're going to give 100% and you know Monday will be another day. While regarding the future, the situation with my injury... Two years ago, I had no apprehensions, I told myself that I am here, that my body is there to run. I will take the same risks because it is my mentality and I cannot ride otherwise, but the way of approaching injuries, my future, changes, it is not the same mentality, but not only for me. You don’t have the same mentality at 20 as you do at 30…”