Gresini Racing had its presentation for the 2024 season yesterday and Marc Márquez, considered by many as the number one favorite for the title, dismissed the pressure on his performance, recalling that he is not at the same level as other riders with the Desmosedici, not forgetting the last years of… ‘nightmare’.
Márquez was questioned by the press about the less familiar feeling he will find in the Italian team, especially after more than a decade in close coexistence with other elements of the paddock, and did not deny that it will be strange: ‘After 11 years together with the team [Honda] and more with my people, 13 or 14 years, it was and is a bit strange, the first steps are strange. When I made the decision [to join Gresini] I was completely convinced and obviously moving to a team like Gresini with my brother as a teammate will make the change much easier. I knew it was going to be like this but, moreover, I feel very comfortable right from the first tests in Valencia with the people. It was the first clear test, one day, with a lot of expectation and nervous people but already yesterday and these days I spent time with the team and it will not be a problem for performance on the track’.
As for the high expectations placed on him, #93 clarified that he wants to be fast but one must be aware of his current situation and moment: ‘One thing is expectation and another is approach: mine will of course try to be fast on the track and if I can be a tenth faster in the first test I will try to do it. Another thing is expectation vs reality. Of course, people have very high expectations, but as I said, my job is to try to forget all those expectations, try to work in the garage, because I need to be calm especially at the beginning’.
And he continued, making it clear that he cannot, at this moment, think that he is at the level of other riders, giving as an example the current champion and the runner-up in the category:
– Calm doesn’t mean not being fast. Of course, I will try to be, but I can’t pretend that I’m fighting for victory from the beginning because the last four years have been a nightmare for me and in the last two, I haven’t been able to win a race, especially because I arrive at a bike where two riders in particular – Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martín – spent many years at its helm, winning races and championships. They are super fast and will have the 2024 bike. You arrive there, even with the same bike, and you can’t pretend that you are at the same level, or it wouldn’t be normal to be at the same level with them right away.
