Between the 2, a fifth place within the Argentinian dash, simply 2.5 seconds from victory, inserting the Spaniard – who didn’t end a top-class season above 14th place – a primary fourth place of the world championship.
“If you happen to informed me earlier than coming right here that I might get pole, fifth place and a podium, I might signal! Marquez mentioned. ” I am very blissful. We’re in fixed progress.
Youthful brother Marquez, inspired by injured Marc watching from dwelling, waited 896 days so as to add to the pair of grandstands throughout his rookie MotoGP season with Repsol Honda in 2020.
Within the high three all through Sunday’s 25-lap race, Marquez quickly realized it was futile to attempt to pursue Marco Bezzecchi, however held off reigning Ducati World Champion Francesco Bagnaia, simply after the mid-stage.
When the Italian lastly handed him, his success was short-lived, slipping on lap 17. Marquez then held Franco Morbidelli at bay, earlier than the 2 have been handed by a charged Johann Zarco, the Frenchman’s GP23 taking second from Marquez on the ultimate lap.
Nevertheless it wasn’t dangerous for a first-ever moist race on a Desmosedici.
“The race was a bit tough for us as a result of throughout the warm-up I could not do numerous laps to attempt digital issues and settings,” mentioned Marquez. “In the long run, for that reason, I struggled a bit an excessive amount of. However anyway, we’ve got to be blissful.
“Marco was on one other degree at present from the primary spherical and I mentioned ‘ciao’. Was inconceivable for me.
“(With Bagnaia) we solely had two overtakes, so it wasn’t a battle. He was pushing lots when he crashed. Within the final nook he was tremendous quick beneath braking, however then he went misplaced on the midpoint as I crashed yesterday in Q1.
“Later, within the final laps, it was tough to additionally maintain Morbidelli behind and Johann gained a second per lap. I used to be pushing lots. I used to be making an attempt to not make errors. It was a race to outlive, however we survived so nicely and made it to the rostrum after 2020. It is a lengthy approach to go.
“We additionally bought numerous factors for the championship which is so lengthy and which will likely be key this 12 months. As I mentioned, we’re in fixed development, however we’re solely within the second spherical.
“I could not think about a begin like that with Gresini and with Ducati,” admitted Marquez, who has spent the final two seasons at LCR Honda. “I felt actually good on the bike, I felt actually good with the group. I nonetheless do not journey the easiest way for the Ducati and that is the place I’ve to work a bit extra. Day after day we let’s do higher issues.
Of the present grid, solely Zarco, Aleix Espargaro, Jack Miller and Maverick Vinales have additionally taken MotoGP podiums on a couple of model of motorbike.
His teammate Fabio di Giannantonio completed in tenth place.
