Qatar MotoGP: Marquez admits early crashes shook confidence
Marc Marquez admits the crash-strewn start to this year's Qatar Grand Prix threw his confidence and convinced him to adopt a cautious early approach to his MotoGP title defence
The Spaniard, riding just six weeks after suffering a broken leg that wrecked his pre-season, was behind both Jorge Lorenzo and Stefan Bradl when they crashed while leading, on laps one and eight respectively.
Marquez, the only rider to select Bridgestone's harder rear compound, says he modified his style accordingly, which in turn allowed him to push harder and prevail in his late battle with Valentino Rossi.
"So many riders crashed, you could lose the front end so quickly," he said.
"I chose the harder rear and was a bit worried in the beginning; honestly I lost confidence.
"I had some problems with the front of my bike in the beginning, so I just tried to stay behind Bradl and then attack a bit more in the final 10 laps.
"I think the first laps were key. If I pushed more, maybe I would have crashed."
Marquez said his victory was all the sweeter following the dramatic late duel with Rossi, adding: "it was so great, I enjoyed it a lot.
"The last lap I pushed 100 per cent; the lap before we passed each other three or four times.
"Last year we had our first battle and he won it, this year was the second. I hope we have more in the future.
"It's a great start to the championship, not only for the result and the 25 points but also for the show. I think it was so nice for the fans."
Qatar MotoGP: Valentino Rossi not frustrated over missed win
Qatar MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo accepts blame for crash
How Quartararo is evoking an absent MotoGP great in 2022
OPINION: Fabio Quartararo has seized control of the 2022 MotoGP world standings after another dominant victory as his nearest rivals faltered. And he is very much heading towards a second championship echoing how the dominator of the last decade achieved much of his success
The human importance of Marquez’s latest enforced MotoGP absence
OPINION: Marc Marquez will likely sit out the remainder of the 2022 MotoGP season to undergo a fourth major operation on the right arm he badly broke in 2020. It is hoped it will return him to his brilliant best after a tough start to the season without a podium to his name. But it’s the human victory that will far outweigh any future on-track success he may go on to have
Why Ducati holds all the power in its MotoGP rider dilemma
OPINION: The French Grand Prix looks to have made Ducati’s decision on its factory team line-up simpler, as Enea Bastianini stormed to his third win of the campaign and Jorge Martin crashed out for a fifth time in 2022. But, as Ducati suggests to Autosport, it remains in the strongest position in a wild rider market
The seismic aftershock left by Suzuki's decision to leave MotoGP
Suzuki's sudden decision to leave the MotoGP World Championship at the end of the season has acted as a stirring element in a market that had already erupted. Autosport analyses what this means for the grid going into 2023
How the real Ducati began to emerge in MotoGP’s Spanish GP
Ducati’s 2022 MotoGP bike has had a tough start to life and the expected early-season title charge from Francesco Bagnaia did not materialise. But the Spanish Grand Prix signalled a turning point for both the GP22 and Bagnaia, as the 2021 runner-up belatedly got his season underway after a straight fight with Fabio Quartararo
How Honda's praise for its 2022 MotoGP bike has turned into doubt
In a little over two months, Honda has gone from setting the pace in MotoGP testing with its new RC213V prototype to being at a crossroads - caused by the discrepancy in its riders' feedback. After a Portuguese GP that underwhelmed, serious questions are now being asked of Honda in 2022
Why Quartararo's Portugal win wasn't only vital for his MotoGP title hopes
Fabio Quartararo got his MotoGP title defence off the ground in the Portuguese Grand Prix as a dominant first win of 2022 rocketed him to the top of the standings. While a significant result in terms of his title hopes, it has come at an even more important time in terms of his 2023 contract negotiations
How a MotoGP legend is preparing for an unexpected comeback at Goodwood
Wayne Rainey, who’s paralysed from the chest down, will ride his 1992 500cc world championship-winning bike again at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed. The American motorcycle legend explains how he's preparing to thrill on his first visit to the famed hillclimb