Before we could start with a volley of questions to double world champion Marc Marquez, he said, “Thank you for coming to Valencia and joining us. This is a big moment for us. We want to come to India! We’ve heard that MotoGP has a strong fan following there. We would love to showcase our bikes, and our world, to our Indian fans.”
This showed the approachability of Marc – as he knew exactly how to break the ice, and start the interaction off on the right foot. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Marc, were you under pressure to break Mick Doohan’s record?
No, not at all! I mean, of course, I was happy to break Mick’s record – but it wasn’t the most important record. Mick won 12 out of 15 races, while I raced 18 times and have 13 races – so you can see the scenario is very different. It’s a record that is now easier to reach, as we have a lot more races.
How did you and your brother, Alex, get hooked on to racing?
My family is like any other normal family in Spain. By normal I mean that we were, and still are, big fans of motor racing – though neither my father nor mother ever competed. When I was 4-years-old, I had asked for a motorcycle for my birthday – and, after that, I never looked back. The turning point of my career was when I was 9-years-old, a team approached me and supported me. This was the key to my career, because, for a normal family, the expenses are too high for motorcycle racing.
Is it imperative to start racing at a very young age?
If you start off young then you have more time to learn and get better experience. Yes, 4-years-old is a bit too young – its better to start from 7 or 8 years of age.
Who inspired you to get into racing – any idols or role models?
My idol was, and still is, Valentino Rossi. As for a role model, I would say Dani (Pedrosa) – because, when I was in the Spanish championship, he would dominate both 125cc and 250cc categories and that was quite an inspiration. But, yes, Rossi is my hero.
Next year Rossi will be 36 years old. Will he still be a threat to the title?
Absolutely. Our main rival will be Valentino, as he finished second this year. We can’t count out Dani and Jorge (Lorenzo), they are also very good riders. But, for sure, Valentino will be ready to fight for the championship.
You have now won two MotoGP world titles in a row. Will the going get tough for you as there will be a lot more pressure on you?
Yes, even this year I felt the pressure being the defending champion and the favourite to retain the title. But I try to convert all this into motivation because, in the end, people put pressure on you because they know you can do it. I think pressure will be there throughout my career. I’ll have to learn to manage it.
Since your Moto2 days, you have had a tendency to crash. Even this season, you crashed twice. How do you get your mind to focus on the next race and not ponder on the crash?
It all depends on the reason for the crash. If there’s a technical issue, then there’s nothing you can do – and if you slip while turning, it can be quite painful. But the only thing that stays in your mind is to get a good result in the next race. It’s very important to analyse and understand the mistakes you’ve done. When I was young I used to crash a lot, but my manger used to tell me that the best way is to learn from your mistakes quickly – so don’t cry about it.
What’s the secret to your speed? You’re literally uncatchable when you’re leading?
I think I manage used tyres quite well. With new tyres, I don’t like to push them from the start and this helps me to accelerate in the latter half of the race. This has been my strength since the 125cc category and Moto2.
With testing taking place right after the calendar year, will you even get time to celebrate your second world championship win?
For me, personally, when we win we must celebrate – so we take out some time. Many people may think you’re supposed to win and it’s quite normal – but that’s not true, because you won’t win the championship every year.
What is an ordinary day for Marc Marquez when you aren’t racing?
In my free time, I like to stay at home and spend time with my family and close friends. During the holidays, I try and go back home whenever possible. I also like going to the beach. I try and watch some football as well – I’m a big fan of FC Barcelona.
What’s the prospect of Alex and you racing together in MotoGP?
I would love to race with Alex, and preferably in the same team. At the moment, I give him useful tips for MotoGP – but later I might restrain myself.
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