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Alex Marquez says it feels “strange” to be in the MotoGP paddock without brother Marc, but stresses it is “not an excuse to not have a good performance”.
The junior Marquez made his motorcycle grand prix racing debut in the 2012 Moto3 season, and his elder brother Marc has been present throughout Alex’s career in the lightweight and intermediate class, not missing a single weekend as he romped to six MotoGP titles.
But Marc Marquez has been sidelined since his season-opener injury and subsequent unsuccessful return in Jerez, and Honda announced recently that he was set for another two or three months on the sidelines.
The two siblings are very close – and having become Moto2 champion last year and joined Marc in the works Honda MotoGP team, Alex Marquez has admitted it’s felt unusual not to have his brother’s company.
“This year that we are [spending] more time on track, more times between races that we don’t come back home, for sure it’d be better to have him here, to train,” said Alex Marquez.
“But also I try to disconnect, with my assistant, with Emilio [Alzamora, manager], with my father, try also to burn the free hours that we have.
“For me it’s a strange situation, because from the first day that I’m in the paddock I was with him [Marc] at my side, so now it’s a little bit strange, but it’s like this and we need to keep pushing.
“It’s not an excuse to not have a good performance.”
The junior Marquez also said he has been missing his brother from a competitive standpoint.
“He’s the best reference you can have on track and on data, because he’s the strongest rider in MotoGP and in the Honda factory,” he added.
“So, you know, it’s always good to have the chance to compare with him, to have him on track, but also from home he helps me.”
Alex Marquez’s MotoGP progress has stagnated somewhat since a breakthrough eighth place in the second Jerez race, and the recent Styrian Grand Prix marked his first premier-class race outside of the points.
At the same time, he has potentially emerged as the fastest 2020-spec RC213V rider in his brother’s absence, beginning to outperform not only Marc’s stand-in Stefan Bradl but LCR rider Cal Crutchlow – even though the 2019-spec Honda ridden by Takaaki Nakagami remains well clear.
“We’re at a point that we just need some polish on details, improve a little bit more the turning area, just a little bit more,” Alex Marquez said.
“We did a step but we need a little bit more, it’s possible – in Misano it will be the main target, and for sure in the riding style I need to keep improving.”
