Rumors continue that Marc Marquez will leave Honda
Rumors continue that Honda's six-time world champion Marc Marquez may terminate his contract for next year.
During the San Marino Grand Prix weekend, rumors gained momentum that Marquez could move to the Gresini Ducati team where his brother Alex currently competes.
Marquez has repeatedly stated that he has a contract with Honda for next year, but these rumors have become stronger as the manufacturer's problems in the championship continue.
Asked on Saturday whether the speculations were a distraction, Marquez said: “No, it is not a distraction at all, it is part of our job. Even on Thursday there was more [speculation].” said.
“So I enjoy it, but you know, I'm already 30 years old, I'm focusing on the race track, I'm focusing on my team, I'm trying to find the best.”
"We have an important test on Monday and yes, that's part of our job, but that's okay."
Marquez started Saturday's sprint race ninth but dropped to 10th after being passed by his younger brother.
Marc Marquez widened slightly as the 2019 Moto2 champion passed his former Honda factory teammate on the inside of Turn 10.
Marc Marquez admitted that Saturday's race was "not bad", especially compared to last weekend's Catalan GP in Barcelona, but insisted he would not be able to maintain those lap times over a longer distance.
“It is true that today's race was not bad overall, we were not like in Montmelo,” said Marquez. "We were closer, the problem was how to do it." said.
“Yesterday, as you can see, I was with the other Hondas because I was just riding smoothly, just trying to figure out the limit and that was it.”
“I did something extra today, but doing anything extra is physically very demanding and it will be difficult to push all the laps for a long race distance.”
“It is true that I was good in one-lap races such as qualifying and practice, but in the sprint race I did not have the pace to follow the best in the first laps.”
“Then my brother Alex touched me and then I saw him with more riders and I knew we had a better pace in practice. "What I did was let him pass to make a gap with the others."
“Then I did 1 min 32.0s, three, four laps like qualifying or practice laps, I used everything, I pressed the brakes a lot, but then my real speed was 32.4, I did 32.6. That was my real speed.”
"These laps were like qualifying or practice laps and I can't drive like that for long."
