Marquez Confident of Aragon Comeback After Silverstone Setback
Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, after a difficult Silverstone weekend, declares he will return to the fight at Aragon, citing past success and improved recovery. Team-mate Pecco Bagnaia echoes the optimism, noting the track’s favorable conditions for Ducati riders.
Marc Marquez, the reigning MotoGP champion, says he is "convinced" he will be back in the fight at Aragon after a poor Silverstone weekend. The Spanish rider, who has won the circuit five times, believes the track’s layout will help him and the Ducati Desmosedici perform at their best.
Aragon: A Familiar Battleground
Marquez has a strong record at Aragon, having won there five times with Repsol Honda before moving to Ducati. He notes that the circuit "enhances my characteristics and the riding of our bike to the fullest," and that the track is less physically demanding than Silverstone. The Spanish circuit has been a key venue for him, where he achieved his first MotoGP victory and his first win on a Ducati.
Recent Form and Title Gap
The Spanish rider suffered his worst weekend since May’s shoulder surgery at Silverstone, finishing 9th and 7th in the Aprilia-dominated British Grand Prix weekend. Those results dropped him 40 points behind title leader Jorge Martin. Marquez’s confidence comes after a run of 15 successive victories for Ducati, which secured a ninth world crown last year. He hopes to close the gap at a circuit where he and the Desmosedici should be more competitive.
Team Perspectives
Team-mate Pecco Bagnaia, who won his first MotoGP race at Aragon in 2021, also expressed optimism. Bagnaia said, "Aragon is a track to which I am particularly attached: here I achieved my first victory in MotoGP, my very first with Ducati." He added that the circuit is "less physically demanding" and that he expects to be closer to the leaders from the start. Bagnaia is currently eighth in the world championship.
Anticipated Performance
Marquez anticipates that with two additional weeks of recovery he will be "much closer to the lead group" and able to fight for positions in both the Sprint and the main race. He believes the Ducati’s performance on the anti-clockwise circuit will allow him to challenge the front-row riders. The confidence is rooted in his past success at Aragon and the improved condition of his bike.
The upcoming weekend will test whether Marquez can translate his confidence into results. If he can regain the pace he displayed in the last four races at the Spanish circuit, the title battle could shift in his favour. The Ducati team will be watching closely as they aim to maintain their dominance on this familiar track.
