Marc Marquez, MotoGP champion, has acknowledged that his performance in fifth place at the United States Grand Prix is due more to his shortcomings than to possible limitations of his Ducati. Still recovering from a shoulder injury that cut short his winning campaign in 2025, Marquez had a difficult weekend in Austin.
Despite being one of the most successful riders at the North American circuit, where he achieved seven victories, his chances this time were already compromised after receiving a long penalty for a collision with Fabio di Giannantonio during the sprint race.
Marquez lost time during the early laps of Sunday’s race, battling with di Giannantonio and Joan Mir for fourth, fifth, and sixth places. After passing through the penalty zone, he fell out of the top 10; although he was able to regain some positions, he was unable to compete for a podium spot.
The rider summed up his situation throughout the race, stating: “Podium, yes. Fighting for the podium, [yes], but not for the victory.” He noted that his penalty for the previous day’s error was decisive in his performance.
Currently, Aprilia has become the dominant manufacturer in the championship, with its star, Marco Bezzecchi, winning the first three races of the season. This has been a considerable setback for Ducati, which had accumulated 88 consecutive races with podiums before this season’s start.
Marquez took full responsibility for his lack of performance, highlighting that he has been struggling to find his rhythm during the early laps. “It’s me who is failing, not the bike,” he expressed, adding that he feels a certain discomfort with his position on the bike, and that he needs to make the most significant changes to recover.
With an intermittent calendar, the next Jerez Grand Prix will be held between April 25 and 26. This unexpected break will allow the riders time for training and to make necessary advances for the remainder of the season.
Reported by FormulaRapidaAI
