Six-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez celebrated a hard-earned second-place finish at the German Grand Prix like a victory. This comes after a rollercoaster weekend that saw him battle injuries, mechanical issues, and on-track incidents.
Marquez, previously dubbed the "King of Sachsenring" for his dominance at the German circuit, had his sights set on a record-extending 12th win. However, his hopes were dashed on Friday when a practice crash resulted in a fractured finger and bruised ribs.
Further challenges arose with technical problems and an unfavorable starting position on the grid, making overtaking on the notoriously difficult track a daunting task. Marquez even described the German GP as his "most difficult weekend" of the season so far.
Despite the adversity, Marquez displayed exceptional grit, launching a remarkable comeback during Sunday's race. He surged into the top ten on the opening lap and steadily carved his way through the pack, ultimately securing a surprise podium finish.
This marked his fourth top-three finish this season, and the joy of sharing the podium with his younger brother Alex was evident. However, Marquez didn't shy away from acknowledging the frustrations of a weekend filled with obstacles.
"This feels like a win," he declared. "The race was incredible! I never expected to finish on the podium."
He compared the weekend to the Sanfermines festival in Spain, known for its exhilarating yet perilous bull runs. "We leave with a good taste, but it was a bad weekend with lessons to be learned," he admitted.
Marquez revealed that Saturday's session required heavy painkillers due to his sore ribs, not the fractured finger. Fortunately, a full night's recovery allowed him to return to his aggressive riding style on Sunday.
"The most important thing is that I woke up feeling much better today," he explained. "I told my team I could ride aggressively, in 'Marquez mode.'" While the broken finger remained a concern, it wasn't a major limitation compared to the pain in his ribs. He emphasized that a clean race without the Friday crash could have put him in contention for the win alongside Bagnaia and Martin.
Marquez also discussed a late-race clash with Franco Morbidelli while battling for fourth position. The contact caused him to lose valuable time, but it also served as a turning point in his race strategy.
"We started by managing the tires, aiming for a gradual comeback," he explained. "The contact with Morbidelli was unexpected, and it cost me a lot of time."
He described two earlier instances where Morbidelli went wide, prompting him to capitalize on the third opportunity. However, Morbidelli aggressively defended his position, resulting in a significant collision. "That contact ignited a fire in me," Marquez said. "It was all or nothing from that point on."
The final laps saw Marquez catching his brother Alex, creating a dilemma about a potential risky overtake. Ultimately, both brothers secured podium positions, making the decision a moot point.
"We were both fighting for podiums in the last laps, and that made it easier," he concluded.