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Alex Marquez’s Eventful Day at the Spanish Grand Prix
Alex Marquez’s performance during Friday’s practice sessions at the Spanish Grand Prix was a mix of resilience and frustration, particularly following two crashes. The younger Marquez showcased his skill throughout the day at Jerez, managing to maintain a competitive edge despite moments of misfortune.
Initially, Marquez faced challenges with a low-speed tumble in the morning practice, followed by a heavier crash early in the afternoon session as he chased his brother, Marc, into a fast corner. The incident raised questions about whether he’d be able to continue, as he spent a significant amount of time recuperating in the Gresini motorhome, nursing an injured arm.
Despite this setback, he returned to the track with just 16 minutes remaining in the session, ready to fight for a Q2 spot. Remarkably, he had performed well prior to his crashes, posting the fastest lap time in the morning, where he dominated all four sectors. Given his previous struggles against his sibling this season, he was determined to capitalize on the opportunity presented by the session.
With only two minutes to go, Alex surged to the top of the leaderboard, clocking in at 1m35.991s—an achievement marking the first time a MotoGP bike completed a lap at Jerez in under 1m36s. Notably, he managed this impressive time using medium tyres, while the majority of his competitors opted for softs. Team manager Michele Masini candidly remarked on how earlier crashes affected their tire strategy, emphasizing the challenges they faced.
Despite achieving such a historical lap time, Marquez was not entirely satisfied. He expressed his disappointment regarding the lost preparation time for the race and acknowledged his mistakes. “The main objective was to be in Q2 and we managed that quite well,” he stated. “But I’m not happy about the day. We didn’t do the job and the work that we needed to do.”
Reflecting on his mishaps, he noted, “Today I was just too confident with the bike. I wasn’t feeling the limit. I was trying to push it and didn’t realize the limit was there. I’m angry because it was a mistake to get too confident.” He echoed sentiments similar to those of another Ducati rider, expressing concerns about the bike’s stability and the risks involved in such an approach.
When interviewed, Marquez admitted that despite the day’s ups and downs, there were positive takeaways. He summarized, “Yes, we’ve done records and placed first, but we haven’t done the critical work you need on a Friday. So I have a bittersweet taste. However, coming back and showing speed is the best way to make amends to the team for my mistakes.”
Following the crashes, Marquez reassured fans that he would not carry any injuries into the weekend. He described the quick and clean nature of the impact but admitted that the gravel had left him with abrasions, resulting in temporary numbness in his hands. “I was fine, but my arms were asleep, and I couldn’t feel what was happening,” he reported, ultimately concluding that he was simply bruised and physically ready for the race ahead.
Photos from Spanish GP – Practice
In this article, you will find insights into:
— The challenges faced by Alex Marquez
— The performance of Gresini Racing
— The competitive atmosphere in MotoGP
Source
www.motorsport.com