Alex Marquez admits he had “no curiosity” from MotoGP groups halfway by means of 2022 earlier than approaching Gresini to trip a Ducati for the 2023 marketing campaign.
The 2014 Moto3 and 2019 Moto2 world champion made his MotoGP debut in 2020 with the manufacturing facility Honda squad, scoring two podiums that yr.
However the next two seasons with LCR on a Honda proved to be troublesome, with Alex Marquez finally signing for Gresini for 2023 to trip a year-old Ducati.
Having taken the choice to go away Honda, Marquez says he had no curiosity from groups halfway by means of the 2022 marketing campaign, however from his first lap on the Ducati within the Valencia take a look at on the finish of the yr knew “the potential was there”.
He received two sprints in 2023, however wouldn’t stand on the highest step of a podium once more till final Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix as he celebrated his maiden victory within the class.
He solely scored one podium in MotoGP final yr in what he described as a “nightmare” season on the GP23, on which he struggled to brake how he wished.
However he says this finally helped him to his win final Sunday at Jerez as a result of he “received used to driving a motorbike that was a step behind the GP24”.
“I bear in mind in ’22 I used to be in Sachsenring, so already half the season [gone],” he mentioned on Sunday at Jerez.
“All people had the contract [for the next year], I used to be with no contract, no curiosity from the groups.
“So, I simply went to Gresini, I simply mentioned ‘I would like your bike, I don’t care concerning the different issues, I simply need your bike and see what my potential is.
“Give me one yr after which we’ll see’. And, truthfully talking, from the primary lap in Valencia with the Ducati I perceive that the potential was there and it was a matter of time to come back again.
“It’s true that final yr, for me, it was slightly little bit of a nightmare at some factors of the season as a result of I used to be not in a position to be the place my expectations have been with the ’23 bike.
“However that was the yr I realized so much and for that motive this yr I’m actually aggressive, as a result of I get used to driving a motorbike that was one step behind the ’24.
“So, simply that. Truthfully talking, in that second in Valencia ’22 I realised that the potential was there and it was only a matter of time to get used to the Ducati to come back again.”
He now leads the championship once more by one level over Marc Marquez, however when requested if this victory modifications his outlook on the title battle, Alex Marquez replied: “No.”
