Marquez “managing pressure” to avoid Austin repeat

Marc Marquez may have dominated at Aragon so far this weekend but the Repsol Honda rider is eager to measure his charge ahead of the race with concerns over suffering a repeat to his Americas MotoGP earlier this season.

Marquez took complete control at Circuit of the Americas earlier in the season in both practice and qualifying but then tipped off while leading comfortably in the race.

While queries remain about whether the mistake was a rider error or a mechanical problem in Austin, Marquez accepts comparisons can be made to his current Aragon race weekend having been over one second faster than all of his rivals in practice before converting that pace into his ninth pole position of the season.

Looking to secure a fourth consecutive Aragon MotoGP victory, Marquez says he’ll measure his own charge for victory despite his healthy advantage over his rivals this weekend.

“To be so strong during a weekend is positive but also negative. One of those negative things is the pressure,” Marquez said having suffered an off at Turn 8 in FP2. “We are at a home circuit and everybody expects a victory tomorrow and it will not be easy.

“It will be difficult as I am pushing and these two guys are riding in a very good way too. We need to manage this pressure.

“Of course Austin is also in my mind, as in Austin I did a mistake and I need to keep focused and work like we have done until now. Choose the best tyre compound for a race distance and enjoy it here in Aragon.”

After stalking Fabio Quartararo for the majority of the Misano race last time out, Marquez remains tight-lipped on his race tactics at Aragon but is eager to stretch out the front-running group in the early stages to keep his title rivals at bay.

Andrea Dovizioso, second in the championship, starts in 10^th place while Danilo Petrucci (3^rd) and Alex Rins (4^th) qualified 15^th and 13^th respectively.

“In Misano Fabio and Yamaha riders had a better pace than me and it looks like they kept a good lap time in an easier way,” he said. “Here it looks like the opposite so here in Misano it is easier to follow because Fabio had the pace.

“Here it is time to push in front because if I don’t push in front there will be a big group at the front. But we will see as this doesn’t mean that I will go out and I will push from the first lap.

“I need to understand the track conditions, the weather and how is the feeling with the bike. Step by step. It is not necessary to open up a big gap from the beginning.”