Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez offered a timeless piece of advice to explain a vital aspect of achieving success in world championship racing. Speaking at an Estrella Galicia event, he responded to a question from Moto2 newcomer Jose Antonio Rueda about where the current limits lie in the sport—whether on the bike, in strategy, or within the rider’s mindset.
Marquez remarked,
“It’s curious because in MotoGP and Moto2, many times you try to go faster and you actually end up going slower,”
highlighting how rushing can backfire. He illustrated this with an old saying:
“It’s like the saying: ‘dress me slowly, I’m in a hurry.’”
Strategic Planning Throughout the Race Weekend
Marquez emphasized the necessity of carefully structuring each race weekend, building momentum systematically from the first practice sessions.
“You must start from FP1, already building the weekend without ever forgetting about the fast lap, because qualifying is very important,”
he explained. At the same time, riders must be ready for different demands throughout the weekend.
“But at the same time, you must prepare for the Sprint race and the main race, which require two different riding styles,”
Marquez added, underlining the complexity of adapting to various formats.
Watching Competitors and Recognizing Limits
Beyond focusing on personal performance, Marquez stressed the importance of analyzing rivals to gauge one’s own level and adjust expectations in real time.
“That’s where you always have to keep an eye on your rivals – what they do better, what they do worse and where they are,”
he said. Understanding this dynamic helps in accepting when victory is unlikely.
“In the end, they’re the ones who really tell you whether you have the level to be at the front that weekend, or whether it’s one of those weekends when they say: ‘this one is ours.’”
Instinct Versus Calculation in Late-Race Overtaking
Turning the conversation toward racecraft, Marquez asked Rueda and MotoGP rookie Diogo Moreira about their approach to overtaking near the end of a race.
“When there are five laps to go, are you more the type to think about the last lap, or do you go more by instinct?”
he inquired.
Rueda replied,
“It depends a lot on the situation,”
and acknowledged that in early races he might rely on instinct, taking more risks. Moreira, the reigning Moto2 champion known for training with the Marquez brothers, said,
“Especially when you’re fighting to win the race, it’s pure instinct,”
adding,
“We’ve already experienced it in the past and even in training (laughs)… I hope I can do that in the future. For me, it’s total instinct, one hundred percent.”
Marquez expressed his approval:
“I love it – instinct, always.”
How Marquez’s Advice Reflects on Racing Challenges
This advice from Marc Marquez highlights the delicate balance between patience and urgency in MotoGP competition. His metaphor about dressing slowly despite being in a hurry captures the essence of measured progress, planning, and awareness required to excel. By advising riders to study rivals carefully and trust instinct when it matters most, Marquez provides a window into the mental and strategic aspects that define world-class racing.
As both seasoned and emerging riders absorb such perspectives, it shapes their approach to future race weekends and could influence competitive dynamics in MotoGP and Moto2 alike.
