Failing to win at Mandalika, Marc Marquez shifts focus to the Japanese GP

Gresini Racing Ducati Team MotoGP racer Marc Marquez (center) makes a heart symbol with his hand while taking part in the MotoGP racer parade at Teras Udayana, Mataram, NTB, Wednesday (25/9). (ANTARA/AHMAD SUBAIDI)

Gresini RACER Marc Marquez is determined to improve his performance at the Japanese GP at the Motegi Circuit this weekend after engine problems prevented him from getting points in the main Indonesian GP race at the Mandalika Circuit, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Sunday (29/9).

Marquez had time to show off in the Sprint race, Saturday (28/9) when he finished in third place behind the Ducati duo, Francesco Bagnaia and Enea Bastianini.

However, an engine problem that caused his motorbike to smoke and cause a fire meant he failed to finish the main race in Mandalika after he pulled over on lap 12.

Also read: Mandalika MotoGP results: Jorge Martin wins, Marc Marquez fails on podium

This adds to Marquez’s bad record in Mandalika, who has never finished in the three main races since 2022.

“The best thing is that the speed is there once again. During the race, I felt every lap was better. I caught the front group. The next race is Japan. That is a circuit that I like,” said Marquez as quoted by Between.

The Motegi Circuit itself is one of the circuits that the Baby Alien racer likes. During his heyday with Repsol Honda, Marquez won the 4.8 kilometer circuit three times in 2016, 2018,
and 2019.

Also read: Marc Marquez Looks Forward to Tight Competition for the Indonesian GP in Mandalika

Last season, Marquez also managed to climb to the podium after finishing third behind Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia. Meanwhile, on the same occasion, the 31-year-old racer did not blame anyone for the engine problem incident on his motorbike.

He did not blame Ducati or his team because according to him the smoke came suddenly.

“That’s something that can happen in MotoGP, it can happen mechanically. It’s not in our hands,” explained Marquez.

“This is not the downfall of Ducati. This is not the downfall of the team. It just happened and that’s it. We win together, we lose together,” he continued. (Z-6)