Marc Márquez admitted he must manage his physical strength and target victory at Motorland Aragón in Alcañiz to maintain his MotoGP championship chances.
The factory Ducati rider arrived at the Spanish track displaying a serious demeanor following a disappointing weekend at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Márquez explained that his right arm did not respond as expected during the event in Great Britain, forcing him to reconsider his approach for the upcoming races.
Márquez revealed that he attempted an aggressive strategy from Friday practice at Silverstone to prepare for Sunday's main race. However, he realized he is not yet physically ready to sustain that level of attack across an entire race weekend.
To compensate for his physical limitations, Márquez stated he must adjust his routine by managing his efforts during Friday sessions and Saturday morning practices. He emphasized that where physical capability falls short, mental focus must bridge the gap if he is to remain competitive.
Physical recovery and race management
Addressing his ongoing recovery from a shoulder injury, the rider from Cervera noted that while any racer expects faster progress, the healing process is moving in the right direction. He stated that his arm no longer fails unexpectedly, which has eliminated the sudden weakness that caused him to crash earlier in the season.
Although his right arm still experiences fatigue during sessions, Márquez explained that the improved stability allows him to ride with greater consistency and composure on the motorcycle.
The arrival at Motorland Aragón brings high expectations for the Spanish rider, who has achieved victory in both races at the Alcañiz venue over the past two seasons since joining the official Ducati squad. Despite his strong record at the track, Márquez noted that the venue brings heavy self-imposed pressure to deliver a full sweep of points.
Championship standing and track rivals
Márquez stressed that securing maximum points at theoretically favorable circuits like Motorland is essential to keep any chance of contending for the world title alive. He explained that while the 22-race championship presents many varied scenarios, failing to maximize results on strong tracks would end his title aspirations, adding that his target for the weekend is a podium finish or victory.
Identifying the main threats for the weekend in Alcañiz, Márquez pointed to the Aprilia lineup as well as fellow Ducati riders who finished ahead of him at Silverstone. He specifically named his brother Álex Márquez and Italian rider Fabio Di Giannantonio as key competitors on track.
Márquez expressed confidence in the competitiveness of his machinery across the 22-round calendar, stating that while the Ducati bike may sit slightly above or below rivals depending on the circuit, it remains capable of fighting for top positions when pushed to its full potential.
Motorland Aragón and rider paddock updates
MotorLand Aragón, situated near Alcañiz in northeastern Spain, is a technical circuit that has historically served as a strong venue for Márquez during his premier class career.
In wider paddock news ahead of the race, French rider Johann Zarco also returned to action following a severe injury, remarking with relief that he was fortunately neither a footballer nor a skier.
