Marquez: My best season, MotoGP Triple Crown for Lorenzo

Marc Marquez has described his dominant 2019 MotoGP world championship as the best season of his career having produced stunning records along with capturing the final part of the Triple Crown by wrapping up the teams’ world title with victory at the Valencia Grand Prix finale.

The Repsol Honda rider has clinched his 12^th victory of the season meaning he has reached the podium in 18 out of 19 races in 2019 – only missing out at Circuit of the Americas when he crashed while leading – and has duly smashed the all-time points record with a total of 420 points.

By taking the final win of the season at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, by overtaking Fabio Quartararo for the lead on Lap 8 before stretching clear, Marquez also ensured Repsol Honda secured the MotoGP teams’ world title ahead of Ducati to complete a perfect campaign.

Marquez has duly described 2019 as the best season of his career, even surpassing his 2014 campaign when he won the opening 10 races of the year, and felt his victory in Valencia became a fitting tribute to both his Repsol Honda team and retiring team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.

“It was my best season of my career and I don’t know if it will be my best season in all of my career but obviously the numbers, the statistics speak,” Marquez said. “We showed our potential this year and it was a perfect season as it was so difficult to improve on.

“We finished in the best way by winning the race in Valencia but especially taking the teams’ championship because all the Repsol Honda team deserves it.

“It is a way to say goodbye to Jorge because in the end the Jorge I have in mind and for everybody is the Jorge that is a five-time world champion and in the end we will celebrate something together tonight and this will make me happy.”

While Marquez acknowledges his 2019 feats haven’t been “normal”, he feels credit must go to the entire Repsol Honda team for pushing him throughout the season despite reaching a dominant position in the championship points standings by the midway mark of the year.

“It was the best season and also the season I enjoyed the most,” he explained. “When the results are coming then you celebrate well. The problem is now the people get used to these kind of results and this is not normal. The normal thing is win six or seven races in the season, if you want to win the title, and then you try to be there on the podium and see some mistakes.

“The opponents are waiting to see where I will make some mistakes but at the moment I am proud of my team and the people around me keep the same mentality, especially Alberto [Puig], who was pushing a lot as team manager.

“Even when I was leading the championship by 80 points he was pushing like hell. This last race again he complained to me that I needed to be focused. This is the best way for a rider.”

With 2020 preparations officially beginning next Tuesday with the two-day post-Valencia GP test, Marquez also says he won’t relax going into next season as he anticipates a greater challenge for the world titles. The 26-year-old had already begun testing 2020 parts with a new chassis spotted during practice at the Valencia GP this weekend.

“Of course you need to keep the pressure and I hate when somebody beats me. Then it is news,” he said. “But maybe next season the guy on my left side of the guy on my right side will beat me in many races and they will be tough contenders for the championship.

“It is racing, it is competition, it is MotoGP and it is the best thing. But this season we enjoyed a lot.”