Extensive press conference by Marc Márquez at Jarama, after testing Repsol’s biofuel on the back of a Honda RC213V-S, the street Honda inspired by the 2014 MotoGP World Championship.
-What did you think of Repsol’s new biofuel on your trips to Jarama?
-Well well. The truth is that I’m a little surprised because whenever you try something for the first time there are little things, but if they don’t tell me, I don’t even notice it. (Smiles). I have noticed that it works well. You can tell when the carburetion is going well or not, if the bike turns up well and, above all, if at the top, which is when you need the most power, there is or can reach the limiter and the truth is that it was good. The performance is very good and if they didn’t tell me that there have been changes in the fuel, I wouldn’t have noticed it.
-How is the communication between pilots and engineers when dealing with such a change?
-Logically, the first comment is always that of the pilot and, as I said before, it is important to see how the engine revs up, that it be clean when accelerating, because it is often the most critical moment. We need it to be smooth, because if it isn’t, the response is very aggressive or bumpy, and in this case it was very smooth and revved up well, and the engine feels free at high revs. And then there is the telemetry, which is also analyzed by the engineers.
-Do you see yourself running with electric motorcycles one day?
-I hope to continue in competition for many more years and I hope and wish that the research into renewable fuels is a success and that the engine is maintained, because I like the noise on the straight, the smell of gasoline. I hope that all research into biofuels will be a success because I believe that it can also be a good future.
-What can you say about the Valencia test?
-We have to try to be in the fight for the title, but at the moment we are still in the phase of how the winter is going to unfold and what we are going to test in February in Malaysia, and to see what level both the bike and I are at. In Valencia there were precise training sessions in which comments and explanations were given and I think that in general it was good, because what was tested was a small step. It is clear that we have to keep working, that Honda has to keep working to develop the bike and have a more competitive overall package for 2023.
-How pissed off with Honda did the test end?
-My level of anger is none, it is not good at this time because then you panic and at this time Honda’s level of commitment is ten. The reaction in Valencia with many engineers inside the box is good and they already told me that a small step would be taken in Valencia and that they would bring, in theory, few things, but that they would be the most important things to evolve thinking about the February prototype. In February is where the final step will be seen. I believe that the anger in situations in which it is necessary to build does not contribute anything and it was simply about doing some tests and having constructive meetings to give the precise guidelines as a pilot, them as engineers and as technicians, and in February is when we will see what is the step taken My confidence in Honda is one hundred percent. Honda is Honda and all the problems we have had in 2022, without me being one hundred percent, because I have had an injury and in the last races we have made a podium, three first rows, in Valencia if it had not been for the problem the Sunday in the race we would have finished on the podium, so the confidence is there and the level is close to those who have won the constructors’ and drivers’ championship this season to be able to fight for those objectives in 2023. That is the objective of Honda, of Marc and Repsol Honda in general.
-Have you already warned Honda that if your needs are not satisfied, you will change the scene in 2025?
-In a constructive situation, anger does not work and threats, less. I have a two-year contract with Honda, I still trust them one hundred percent and we have the mentality. I hope and wish to win again with Honda. This is my number one priority and I am sure and convinced that I am in the best factory and that it is the only one or one of the only ones that can react like this, in the best way.
-What do you know about the history of Jarama?
-I should know more about the history of Jarama, but I know it above all from Ángel Nieto. When we paid tribute to him when he left us, that we did it here, that we took a lap and they showed us images of turns three and four, of the stadium area and of the people who gathered. There have been all kinds of races here, but for what I know Angel Nieto was very involved in it.
-He seems optimistic.
-It is that when I had my arm rotated 34 degrees I was optimistic, and I always am optimistic and it is the way to face winter. It is the first winter after three or four years without being injured and it is true that I have to do a very constant winter to finish taking that step on a physical level, but confidence is one hundred percent. The Valencia tests went well and, above all, when the Valencia tests were over what came out of me was to tell people that we have to rest, that it is important because I think there has to be a point of disconnection and then to prepare for the 2023 and face it with the greatest possible ambition and optimism. Then it will be the rivals who will put you in the right place and as we have seen this year one thing is how it starts, because then it can end the other way around and that is how it has been seen in 2022 between Fabio and Pecco and Pecco and Fabio. Next year will also be a new championship that motivates me a lot and right now it’s at its best.
-What do you say about your brother Álex?
-Álex has already shown in the past that when he has everything in place and is convinced, he adapts well to the project, to the bike and with his riding style he gives it his all. He showed it in Moto3, where he was world champion. He showed it in Moto2, where he was world champion. And he has shown it in MotoGP, making podium finishes in his first season, something that few have done. We’ll see, but he’s very happy and on the return trip from Valencia we went in the same car and the smile didn’t leave his face, but he didn’t say much either. He worked in his garage and I worked in mine. Logically, we will help each other this winter to train and arrive as prepared as possible, but he will have his secrets inside his box with his bike and we will have ours.
-How did you see Mir and Rins?
-I can say little about Alex, because he was in another box, but at first what he found was a small surprise. They were adapting since it is a very different motorcycle. What they commented after testing, because they have not been allowed to make statements from Suzuki, I am not going to do them either, but the important thing when you refer to the development, is that Joan, only when getting on the Honda for the first time, the comments were very similar to mine, and the problems too. Everyone’s comments are taken and, logically, the ones that have the most weight are the ones that go the fastest and if the year that goes the fastest is Joan, then it will be Joan, and if I go faster, it will be me, and if Rins goes faster, because it will be Rins’s, because he also has a factory contract. For now the comments are very similar and I’m sure that helps to take a step and follow a direction.