Carlo Merlini, Commercial and Marketing Director of Gresini Racing, shared his thoughts on Marc Márquez’s impactful presence in the team, after his impressive podium in Le Mans. Merlini described the achievement as a ‘dream come true’ and praised Márquez for rejuvenating the team spirit.
‘My heart was about to jump out of my mouth… Marc did again in the Sunday race what he did in the Saturday Sprint, starting from thirteenth on the grid and finishing second on the podium. He raced like Marc, with some incredible overtakes,’ said Merlini.
‘For us in the garage, third place was already perfect, but it wouldn’t have been perfect for him,’ commented Carlo. ‘A podium is always a podium, but Marc is someone who, when he sees the opportunity, always takes it. And the overtake on Pecco was fantastic. Marc put on a show again. That overtake, on the last lap, was absolutely clean. I was scared when he jumped from so far back. It wasn’t just about the points at stake, but also many discussions after the race in case of an accident…’
‘The planets aligned for Marc to end up in our team, and he came.’
‘It was our 1000th race and celebrating it like this is very important. 1000 starts is a lot and it won’t be long before Marc’s first victory. He was already thinking about it after Jerez. He is there with last year’s bike, but he was fast, very fast, like Martín and Pecco, who are riding this year’s bikes,’ added Merlini.
The team manager also spoke about Álex Márquez: ‘I think Álex did a good job promoting the team in that sense, not at a technical level, but so that Marc understood that we are a family. That was fundamental and we know what that means’ Merlini continued.
‘He asked us for a one-year contract and that was enough for us. If it’s a story that lasts only one year, we are happy and grateful to have chosen Gresini this transition season. And if the story continues, it would be another dream, but it’s Marc’s decision and we have to make the most of each day’ he concluded.
Future Perspectives:
Merlini remains hopeful that Marc Márquez will continue to be associated with Gresini, recognizing that the decision ultimately lies with the rider. The team is focused on savoring every moment and building on recent successes.
As MotoGP 2024 unfolds, Gresini, strengthened by the Márquez brothers, hopes for more victories and memorable experiences. The team dynamics are stronger than ever, driven by shared goals and mutual respect.
