Marc Marquez delivered a spectacular podium return in Jerez that stoked the passion of the Spanish audience, as he and Francesco Bagnaia engaged in an intense battle. Though Bagnaia won in the end, Marquez demonstrated his relentless pursuit for his first Ducati victory. Marquez made two brave attempts to take the lead but was unable to reduce the distance on Bagnaia, who he was behind by just two seconds after passing Marco Bezzecchi.
Reflecting on his performance, Marquez revealed, "I rode even too conservatively in the first five laps. Yesterday’s crash played a part and I wanted to make sure I made it to the finish line. Then I saw the chance to win and I gave it a try. Pecco defended the position strongly and it was good this way. Now winning is not a dream anymore, so let’s enjoy this return to speed and to podium ways."
In the Spanish GP, Marquez was also heavily rivalled by the erratic GP24s in the Ducati team. This situation might have been typical of a Jerez weekend, especially in light of Bagnaia's Friday record-breaking pace. Nevertheless, Marquez was positioned well for both races by the unpredictable weather, which allowed him to make use of his competitive advantage from the front row.
Also Read: MotoGP Spanish GP: Bagnaia Wins in Jerez, Marquez Secures Second Place in a Spectacular Showdown
MotoGP: Is Mark Marquez Back?
After switching from Honda to Ducati, Marc Marquez has finished second twice in sprint races this season. The last time he finished second in a main race was in October 2022. Marquez has not won another race since taking his 59th career triumph at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in October 2021.
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Marquez is now in sixth place with 60 points, 32 points behind Jorge Martin, the championship leader. Martin, racing for Pramac, was in the lead until he crashed out of the Spanish Grand Prix on lap 11. Despite wanting to win, he might take comfort in knowing that giving up Jerez's victory might help him in the championship fight in the longer term.
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