Marc Marquez expressed the pressure he feels chasing his ninth world championship during Saturday’s MotoGP Sprint in Japan, where he fought hard to finish second behind Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia. The event revealed the intense focus and anxiety surrounding Marquez as he edges closer to securing his first title since 2019.
Marquez’s day began roughly with a crash during practice, but he steadied himself to qualify on the front row. Despite starting ahead of his brother Alex, the only remaining contender for the championship, Marquez admitted that the tension affected his performance during the Sprint.
Marquez Confronts Challenges Amid Title Tension
In the opening lap, Marquez slipped behind KTM’s Pedro Acosta and Honda’s Joan Mir, struggling to maintain a clean line and running off-track several times. His discomfort was clear as he confessed to MotoGP.com,
“I feel some extra weight. I’m not riding smooth, comfortable this weekend,”
highlighting the mental strain of the title run.
He added,
“That first lap of the Sprint, I felt that weight on my shoulders again. I was more stiffer than usual. So let’s see if tomorrow we can start in a better way.”
This pressure seemed to slow him down initially, yet Marquez’s pace improved as tyre performance dipped in the second half of the 12-lap race.
Late-Race Surge Secures Second Place
When tire grip declined, Marquez showcased his skill by becoming the fastest rider on track. Using the evolving track conditions to his advantage, he employed a motocross-style block pass to overtake Joan Mir and then closed in on Pedro Acosta to claim second place.
About the difficulty of overtaking, Marquez said,
“The most difficult thing of the Sprint race is overtaking Joan Mir and Pedro! They are braking super late, super hard. With Joan, always when he feels something [alongside], he releases brakes. But this time, I said, I will release a bit more!”
demonstrating his aggressive approach to regain positions.
Bagnaia’s Victory and Marquez’s Title Outlook
Francesco Bagnaia secured his first Sprint win of 2025, breaking a ten-race podium drought. Marquez praised his teammate’s performance, stating,
“Already in Misano, he was fast. From FP1 here, he was riding in a very good way. It’s better if your team-mate is faster because I can compare, adapt and even share some comments.”
This rivalry within the team adds a competitive edge that Marquez finds motivating.
With Alex Marquez finishing outside the points in tenth place during the Sprint, Marc holds a comfortable lead in the championship. He can afford to lose six points to his brother on Sunday and still clinch the title with five races remaining, putting him in a strong position despite the pressure.
The Road Ahead for Marquez
As the weekend progresses, all eyes are on Marc Marquez’s ability to maintain composure under mounting pressure in the Japanese MotoGP. His performance on Sunday could not only bring him a long-awaited championship but also affirm his resilience in the face of intense competition and personal expectations.
