Repsol Honda team manager Alberto Puig analyzes Marc Márquez and Pol Espargaró’s Texas weekend, which was not without problems, and makes it clear: “The 2022 MotoGP World Championship is still open.”
Marc Márquez once again showed an impressive performance on the “Circuit of The Americas”, even if the seven-time Austin winner was not on the podium on Sunday: After a problem at the start the Repsol Honda star stormed forward from the end of the field to 6th place in his comeback race.
Team manager Alberto Puig said: “Marc showed a really impressive race. He had a technical problem at the start, which was a shame. Honda HRC is investigating what happened, what the problem was and what the solution is.”
After all: «After the first corner his motorcycle worked well, he was able to show his true pace. He was last after that problem and well behind the group, more than six seconds back, but he showed he was the quickest rider at COTA on Sunday. Everyone saw it, his performance was incredible, »said Puig.
The eight-time world champion collected ten points for sixth place. In the World Cup table, he is 13th and a manageable 40 points behind despite the compulsory break. “Marc failed to start in Indonesia and then missed Argentina, so we’re very happy that he was able to ride again in Texas after the Mandalika warm-up crash. He was able to show his level – same as usual. He’s a rider who’s a step above the others,” said Puig.
Pol Espargaró, on the other hand, was a shadow of himself because of a gastrointestinal infection. «Unfortunately Pol has had problems since he arrived in the USA. He caught food poisoning earlier in the week and has been struggling all weekend. If you suffer from stomach problems you lose all your strength, and on a super physical track like COTA that becomes an even bigger problem,” says Puig. “It was very complicated for him to complete a normal weekend. He gave his maximum and scored a few points, which we really appreciate. But he had a lot of trouble, it was a bad experience for him.”
The Repsol Honda team manager is optimistic about the European tour: “We will start in Europe with Portimão and Jerez on two routes that Marc likes. The World Championship is open as Marc is only 40 points behind the leader despite missing two races and we are witnessing the longest season in history. There are still more than 300 points to get and a lot of things can still happen. We will fight just like the other teams and drivers and we will keep the same mentality as always – that means we try to win,” said the 55-year-old Spaniard.
“We had a lot of problems at the beginning of the season, but Pol is only 38 points away from Bastianini and Marc is only 40. So we’re positive, we’ll try to fight and catch up. Our spirit is to try to win, that’s our goal too. In Austin everyone could see how Marc was on the road. When a driver is last and has many seconds to gain, almost six seconds into the first lap, and then comes back just six seconds behind the winner, then you can see a driver’s potential. In Spain we say: ‘A buen entendedor pocas palabras bastan’ – a few words are enough for a good listener,” concluded Puig meaningfully.
MotoGP result, Austin (April 10):
1. Bastianini, Ducati, 20 laps in 41:23.111 min (159.8 km/h)
2. Rins, Suzuki, + 2.058 sec
3.Miller, Ducati, +2.312
4. Mir, Suzuki, +3.975
5. Bagnaia, Ducati, +6.045
6. Marc Marquez, Honda, +6.617
7. Quartararo, Yamaha, +6,760
8. Martin, Ducati, +8.441
9. Zarco, Ducati, +12.375
10. Vinales, Aprilia, +12.642
11. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, +12.947
12. Brad Binder, KTM, +13.376
13. Pol Espargaró, Honda, +17.961
14. Nakagami, Honda, +18,770
15. Dovizioso, Yamaha, +29.319
16. Morbidelli*, Yamaha, +29.129
17. Marini, Ducati, +29.630
18. Oliveira, KTM, +32.002
19. Fernandez, KTM, +37.062
20. Gardner, KTM, +42.442
21. Di Giannantonio, Ducati, +42.887
22. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, +1:42.171 min
– Alex Marquez, Honda
– Bezzecchi, Ducati
*= 1 place back («track limits» in the last lap)
Championship status after 4 of 21 Grand Prix:
1. Bastianini 61 points. 2 Rins 56 3 Aleix Espargaró 50 4 Mir 46 5 Quartararo 44 6 Brad Binder 42 7 Miller 31 8 Zarco 31 9 Oliveira 28 10 Martin 28 11 Pol Espargaró 12/23 Bagnaia 23/13 Marc Marquez 21 14 Viñales 19 15 Morbidelli 14 16 Nakagami 12 17 Marini 10 18 Bezzecchi 7 19 Darryn Binder 6 20 Alex Marquez 4 21. Dovizioso 3. 22. Gardner 1.
Constructors’ Championship:
1. Ducati 86 points. 2. KTM 59. 3. Suzuki 57. 4. Aprilia 51. 5. Yamaha 44. 6. Honda 34.
Team World Cup:
1. Suzuki Ecstar 102 points. 2nd Red Bull KTM Factory 70th 3rd Aprilia Racing 69th 4th Gresini Racing MotoGP 61st 5th Pramac Racing 59th 6th Monster Energy Yamaha 58th 7th Ducati Lenovo 54th 8th Repsol Honda 44th 9th Mooney VR46 Racing 17th 10th LCR Honda 16th 11th WithU Yamaha RNF 9th 12th Tech3 KTM Factory 1st
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Welcome to Austin racing
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Jack Miller
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Enea Bastianini
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Luca Marini
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Aleix Espargaro
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start of the race
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Alex Rins
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Luca Marini
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Fabio Quartararo
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Pol Espargaro
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Brad Binder
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Enea Bastianini
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Jack Miller
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Johann Zarco
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Jorge Martin
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Marc Marquez
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Francesco Bagnaia
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Enea Bastianini wins the race
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Winner Enea Bastianini
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Rins, Bastianini, Miller
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Winner Enea Bastianini
