27 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

Charging Marquez salvage top-ten finisher in Assen

An incredible charge through the field from Marc Marquez at the Dutch TT delivered seventh from 20th on the grid.

Round nine of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship was held under clear skies at the historic TT Circuit Assen, the Repsol Honda Team lining up on the grid as they prepared for an uphill challenge. The morning started well with both Marc Marquez finishing the morning Warm Up in the top ten and displaying promising pace. Early fears of rain soon vanished as the grid formed up for the 26-lap Grand Prix later in the day.

Marc Marquez was unstoppable off the line as he jumped up the order when the lights went out, ending lap one in 12th after starting down in 20th on the grid. Within just three laps Marquez had made up a total of ten positions as he attached himself to the group at the front and settled in for the race. Consistent pace and mistakes ahead moved Marquez up the order until the second half of the race when he began to attack and slid past Aleix Espargaro for seventh. Their battle would reignite in the closing laps, the Honda RC213V gaining the advantage on the final lap. His charge through the field would leave Marquez with a seventh-place finish after starting in 20th, making up 13 places over the course of the race – a strong finish after his hard fall on Friday.

The MotoGP World Championship will now enjoy the mid-season summer break, returning to action at the Styrian Grand Prix on August 08. For the Repsol Honda Team it offers a chance to regroup and attack the second half of the season after a difficult start to 2021.

Marc Márquez, 7^th: “I am very happy today, sure if you check the result and see seventh it’s not too impressive but when you start from 20th on the grid, it’s not too bad. I was pushing a lot in the opening lap and I was up to 12th. Then I made a mistake in the middle of the race and lost contact with the front group. From then I just focused on coming back and I was able to ride well until the end with a nice battle with Aleix Espargaro in the last laps as well. I was destroyed physically so could not challenge Pecco more. When I came back to the box I said thanks to the team and Honda because after Friday’s crash, they gave me the confidence again by changing some parameters with the TC and I was able to ride well. The potential of the bike was a podium if we had started in the front. Now for the summer break, time to rest and recover and come back stronger for the second half of the season.”

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27 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

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20 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

SachsenKING – Marc Marquez wins again

For the 11th consecutive time in his career, Marc Marquez stole the show at the Sachsenring and returned to the top step of the podium 581 days after his last win.

There was no stopping Marc Marquez as the lights went out at the Sachsenring, the 10-time German GP winner shooting forward and moving into second by the second corner. By the end of the first lap, he had moved into the lead and defended a brief challenge from Aleix Espargaro. Consistent pace saw the eight-time World Champion steadily grow his lead, falling rain drops only spurring him on. As the race crossed over half-distance, Miguel Oliveira emerged as Marquez’s closest rival as the Portuguese rider traded fastest laps with the race leader.

Intense pressure and a strong ride from Oliveira pushed Marquez right to the end of the race, but 336 days after his injury at the 2020 Spanish Grand Prix, Marc Marquez was a race winner once again. It is his 11th straight win in Germany and the 11th consecutive win for a Repsol Honda Team rider at the circuit, ending a 21-race run without a victory. With his 96th premier class podium, his 57th win in the class, Marquez moves ahead of Doohan for most premier class podiums – fourth overall.

The next race is right around the corner as the World Championship heads north to Assen, The Cathedral, for round nine of the World Championship. Marquez is eager to get going once again and head into the mid-season summer break on a positive note.

Marc Márquez: “This is one of the most important, and hardest, moments of my career. Today I knew there was a great opportunity to do something. When I crossed the line I just enjoyed it and then arriving with my whole team there, emotional, it helps a lot after such a difficult situation. It’s impossible to come back alone, you need people, you need a good team, a good team of doctors, a physio, Honda, Honda respect me a lot. Alberto Puig, Emilio Alzamora, my family, they helped me a lot. Now it’s time to enjoy this weekend, we were looking for a petrol station but now we found one and the fuel tank is full again. It’s extra motivation for me, for Honda, for the engineers, for the team and let’s see what the future brings. When I saw some drops of rain on lap four of five, I said; it’s my race. I started pushing at this point and then when it started to rain harder, I pushed even more and then the second race with Oliveira began. He pushed so hard and was very fast, it was hard to keep concentrated because all the memories, everything I have lived over the last year, came into my mind. But we did it. We will do it again.”

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20 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

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06 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

DNF in Barcelona for Marc Márquez

The MotoGP paddock arrived to dark clouds hanging over the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya but the rain remained at bay. After a productive morning Warm up, where Marc Marquez finished eighth, the scene was set for the Catalan GP.

Marquez was aggressive from the off in the race, working hard to advance up the order and not let the leaders escape. By lap three, Marquez’s RC213V was up to sixth and looking strong. Unfortunately a mistake at Turn 10 would cost Marquez his race as he fell, unable to re-join.

Both Repsol Honda Team riders escaped injury in their falls and will be back out on track tomorrow, Monday, for a one day test before having a week off to refocus before the German GP on June 20.

Marc Márquez: “My intention today was to start well and push because I thought maybe the others would try to manage their tyres. I gave everything in the beginning because if I didn’t do this, I wouldn’t have slept well today. Ok, I crashed but I showed to myself that I can do it, so this was one positive. Instead of finishing in 12th or 13th place, today was the day to take some risks. Tomorrow we have a test, it’s an important day – more important than today. We keep working and never give up.”

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06 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

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03 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

Repsol Honda Team aim to regroup in Barcelona

After a difficult Italian GP on and off the track, Marc Marquez is looking to get back to work and back to where they know they can be.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Montmelo will host round seven of the 2021 MotoGP World Championship, the Barcelona track a mainstay of the Grand Prix calendar. 2021 presents a revised layout around Turn 10 for riders to now master, the changes made to improve safety. The 24-lap MotoGP race on Sunday is sure to be another thrilling affair as the season continues to rapidly progress.

For the first time since returning from injury, Marc Marquez will race on back-to-back weekends. This presents a unique test for his physical condition and the eight-time World Champion is ready to take the weekend as it comes. Throughout his premier class career, Marquez has twice won the Catalan GP and only missed the podium on one occasion – in 2015 when he fell while battling for the lead. Marquez’s objective for the weekend remains the same as he looks to improve both himself and the Repsol Honda Team RC213V over the course of the Grand Prix.

Marc Márquez: “Although our last race was not good, overall Mugello was a weekend with some positives for us as it was quite consistent. We know where we are, we know where we want to go and we will keep following the correct steps week by week. In Montmelo it seems that there will be some fans in the grandstands again, the fans give a great atmosphere, and it will be very nice to see some people in the stands again at the home GP.”

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03 Jun, 2021

Moto GP

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30 May, 2021

Moto GP

Repsol Honda Team end difficult Mugello weekend

The Italian Grand Prix was overshadowed by the heartbreaking news of Jason Dupasquier’s passing. The Repsol Honda Team and HRC would like to extend their deepest condolences to Jason’s family, friends and team at this difficult time.

Unfortunately, after a promising start, Marc Marquez’s race lasted just over a lap as he fell at turn three on lap two. Marquez walked away unharmed in the fall.

Round seven follows immediately, the paddock heading to Barcelona for the Catalan GP next week, June 03 – 06. A home race for Marc Marquez, the Repsol Honda Team will continue to give their utmost to deliver what both riders need for success.

Marc Márquez, NC: “It has been a very hard weekend for MotoGP, we have lost a young talent, a young rider inside the paddock. This situation is very hard for everyone, and we wish everyone close to Jason all the best. Unfortunately we finished the race much earlier than we were expecting and it was really not a good situation because I need laps on the bike. I had contact with Brad Binder, it was a racing incident, and this happens many times here at this track. I thought that Binder was further back and in the change of direction, we touched, it as my mistake. Luckily no one else fell. Now we prepare for Catalunya after this difficult weekend for the MotoGP family.”

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30 May, 2021

Moto GP

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16 May, 2021

Moto GP

Marquez returns to the battle for victory in dramatic 2021 French GP

The first flag-to-flag race since 2017 saw Pol Espargaro encounter all conditions as Marc Marquez returned to leading a Grand Prix but was ultimately left disappointed.

Sunday at the 2021 French GP would prove to be a day of two halves: a soaking wet morning giving way to a seemingly sunny and pleasant afternoon. But dark clouds loomed in the distance just as the MotoGP grid lined up for the 27-lap race, Marc Marquez starting sixth. The clear sky vanished after just a handful of laps as the clouds crept in and soon opened, the entire MotoGP field pulling into the pits on lap five to change dry bikes for wet ones as the rain began.

A perfect run into the pits and subsequent bike swap saw Marc Marquez convert his early race speed into the race lead as he returned to the track from pit lane. Looking comfortable in the lead, Marquez continued to steadily increase his advantage until a highside at the final corner sent the eight-time World Champion down to the ground. With the spirit of a champion, Marquez remounted to see what would be possible with over half the race still to run.

Setting the fastest times out on track, Marquez began to pick his way forward and into the points. But a second fall, this time at Turn 6, ended Marquez’s run at the French GP. He walked away without injury but bitterly disappointed with the final outcome after showing such potential.

The MotoGP World Championship now prepares to head to Mugello for the Gran Premio d’Italia Oakley before the Catalan GP the following weekend. Both sides of the Repsol Honda Team garage are determined to deliver on the potential they showed during the Le Mans weekend.

Marc Márquez, NC: “I’m disappointed with today, we weren’t able to profit from the special situation where normally we feel really comfortable. The positive is that we showed our speed today, even after the crash I was able to be fast on the bike. It’s true that we didn’t use the opportunity that the weather gave to us. The first crash we had can happen in the wet, maybe the tyre was a little cold, but I am more disappointed with the second crash. It was not the time to crash again but we keep learning. Maybe I wasn’t fully concentrated on the track conditions, I was thinking more about changing back to slicks and I arrived at Turn 6 too fast and fell. This is very disappointing. In a normal dry weekend, I know it would be harder, we’re happy with our performance of the weekend but not happy about Sunday because it was not the best Marc on track.”

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16 May, 2021

Moto GP

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02 May, 2021

Moto GP

Top ten finishes for Marquez after bruising weekend.

A weekend complicated by falls ends with a pair of safe and consistent race for Marc Marquez.

Morning Warm Up did not go to plan for the Repsol Honda Team as race day at the Gran Premio Red Bull de España began. Marc Marquez was victim to another fast fall, this time at Turn 4. Marc again walked away unharmed from their respective incidents.

Putting his fall behind him, the Repsol Honda Team rider lined up on row five of the grid for the 25 lap race. Although not at his physical best after the falls, Marquez was determined to make forward progress in the race. A calm approach saw the #93 steadily make up ground, entering the top ten on lap 11 after passing his team-mate. Marquez then set his sights on Zarco and the group ahead, catching them with a handful of laps to go. Taking ninth at the flag, Marquez finished 10 seconds behind the winner – importantly, three seconds closer than he was in Portimao. Although the position was lower, Marquez and his team are pleased with the progress made from one race to another.

Monday offers the MotoGP World Championship the opportunity to head back out on track at Jerez for a one-day test.

Marc Márquez, 9^th: “Of course today we would have liked to be further ahead but we should be happy. In Portimao we finished 13 seconds behind the leader and here only ten, this is the main target. Like in Portimao I felt strong in the middle of the race, but I lost some time at the start and the end of the race and overall I felt like we have made a big step compared to our last race. I can now understand more about the bike. Tonight we will decide if I will test tomorrow, it is important to do some laps if we can to keep understanding everything with the team. It hasn’t been the best weekend in Jerez, but an important step and I want to say a big thank you to Honda and my team this weekend for their incredible work.”

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02 May, 2021

Moto GP

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18 Apr, 2021

Moto GP

Heroic seventh for returning Marquez

All eyes were on the eight-time World Champion as he put in a champion’s effort to finish the Portuguese Grand Prix in a scintillating seventh.

The sun was again shining on the Algarve as the MotoGP World Championship lined up for round three of the 2021 season. A calm Warm Up session saw both the Repsol Honda Team riders confirm the feeling on their respective Honda RC213V machines.

When the lights went out, Marc Marquez was the centre of attention as he shot forward from sixth and immediately began to battle inside the top three. The fighting was fierce, and a still-recovering Marquez found himself forced to ease the intensity of his fight. Settling into his rhythm, the #93 worked to hold his spot in the top ten while avoiding any costly mistakes.

Completing his objective of finishing the race, Marquez crossed the line in seventh and as top Honda. The incredible effort of the race was clear to see as an emotional Marc Marquez was welcomed back into the Repsol Honda Team garage to a roar of applause from the team. With his nine points for seventh, Marc Marquez ends a point drought of 518 days.

The MotoGP World Championship now settles into a familiar rhythm, a week away from the circuit before returning for round four in Jerez.

Marc Márquez, 7th: “There were a lot of emotions this weekend and when I arrived in the box I just exploded, not for the pain but there was something inside that needed to come out. I felt so much support from everyone and especially my family and friends. To feel like a MotoGP rider again was the most important thing and it was a great feeling. I didn’t enjoy today’s race, I suffered a lot, but it was the most important step in my recovery so far. We were able to finish the race, that was our main goal – the position didn’t matter but to finish 13 seconds behind first was an impossible dream. I think I felt best when I was riding alone in the middle of the race, the start of the race was a bit of a shock after so long! The last laps were just about finishing. Now we look to Jerez.”

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18 Apr, 2021

Moto GP

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10 Apr, 2021

Moto GP

Marquez cleared to return

In the review carried out on Marc Marquez by the Hospital Ruber Internacional medical team, four months after surgery, led by Doctors Samuel Antuña and Ignacio Roger de Oña, and made up of Doctors De Miguel, Ibarzabal and García Villanueva, for an infected pseudoarthrosis of the right humerus, a very satisfactory clinical condition was found, with evident progress in the bone consolidation process. In the current situation, Marquez can return to competition, assuming the reasonable risk implicit in his sporting activity.

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10 Apr, 2021

Moto GP

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17 Mar, 2021

Moto GP

Marc Marquez on track in Barcelona

The Repsol Honda Team rider continued to evaluate his physical condition with a day riding the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit on the Honda RC213V-S.

Just a few days after his medical team confirmed the progress made by Marc Marquez, the eight-time World Champion was back on track. First using a mini-bike close to his home in Cervera, Marquez has now completed a day of riding at the Montmelo circuit on the RC213V-S to understand his physical condition after eight months away from the track.

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17 Mar, 2021

Moto GP

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