Marquez feels less pressure than 2016 despite Vinales threat

JPSLotus · Apr 12, 2017

While some would like to imagine that MV is inside MM's head, or that he is feeling major pressure from Vinales, MM doesn't share that view. He does admit the Yamaha M1 is strong as is obvious to everyone. In my view, Yamaha certainly has a major advantage currently, but MM has what I consider to be a healthy view on things. It will be interesting to see if he can make any serious inroads on MV and VR. Hopefully he will as it will make for much more compelling racing. Biggest key will be whether Honda can finally get their acceleration issues sorted out.

Honda’s Marc Marquez says he felt more pressure in the 2016 MotoGP season than he does this year, despite having to face up to Maverick Vinales.

Marquez won a third championship in four seasons last year, despite Honda’s struggles with acceleration, and admitted it was the first time he really felt pressure.

All eyes are on the Spaniard to fight for the 2017 title with countryman Vinales, who has won the first two races of the season, but Marquez says he does not feel in the spotlight as much this time around.

“I felt more pressure last year,” he said. “Of course you feel the pressure to be there, to fight for the championship.

“And it looks like both Yamaha riders, not only Maverick, also Valentino [Rossi] in the practice is not there but in the race both Yamaha riders are really strong.

“They have a really good package, they are really consistent and we need to work together with Honda to try to find a better way to improve our results.”
"Behind" but at a "good level"

Honda has revamped its engine configuration again in 2017, but engineers are still working to mate the package with MotoGP’s control electronics, leaving riders battling an acceleration deficit again.

Marquez finished fourth in the season opener in Qatar, but crashed out of the lead last Sunday in Argentina, and sits eighth in the championship, 37 points behind Vinales.

He started 2016 with third in Qatar and victory in Argentina, and scored points in every race until crashing out of the Phillip Island race in October, after he had secured the title.

“In your career you always have good and tough situations – I don’t like to say ‘bad’,” he added.

“But it’s in these moments that you have to try to learn and get better. We weren’t so good at the start of the last season and we won.

“This year we didn’t start in the best way, but there is a long season left. We have to learn what we did wrong to improve the bike.

“I’m eighth in the championship, I’m behind right now. But is important to know that we are in a good level, because we fell in Argentina in the lead.

“However for now the two Yamahas are very strong, Vinales and Valentino.”

Additional reporting by Oriol Puidgemont and Erick Gabriel

https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/n...sure-than-2016-despite-vinales-threat-892957/

michaelm · Apr 12, 2017

JPSLotus said:
While some would like to imagine that MV is inside MM's head, or that he is feeling major pressure from Vinales, MM doesn't share that view. He does admit the Yamaha M1 is strong as is obvious to everyone. In my view, Yamaha certainly has a major advantage currently, but MM has what I consider to be a healthy view on things. It will be interesting to see if he can make any serious inroads on MV and VR. Hopefully he will as it will make for much more compelling racing. Biggest key will be whether Honda can finally get their acceleration issues sorted out.

I have to say that "he would say that" also applies to him.

If Vinales continues his current consistency allied with his known pedigree for infrequent dnfs MM already has a big problem in regard to this year's title imo. Doesn't mean he won't win it again next season though.

JPSLotus · Apr 12, 2017

michaelm said:
I have to say that "he would say that" also applies to him.

If Vinsles continues his current consistency allied with his known pedigree for infrequent dnfs MM already has a big problem in regard to this year's title imo. Doesn't mean he won't win it again next season yhough.

Considering how well he handled the aftermath of Valentino Rossi's orchestrated smear campaign in 2015, I see little reason to question his mental toughness or ability to handle pressure. He's the only rider who was on the receiving end of the worst of VR and his fanbase to come out of it no worse for the wear....and of course we can't forget his response was to win the title last season.

I do agree that he likely has a big problem with regards to this season's title. However, if any rider is capable of clawing back, I'd tip him to be capable of it. Most of it will revolve around HRC's ability to get the bike up to a reasonable standard.

Hollywood · Apr 12, 2017

MM had the race in Argentina before he crashed, now going to Texas a place where he always wins, so no cause for panic just yet.

Gaz · Apr 12, 2017

IMO only, but just as one would expect Michelin to say 'all is ok' with their product, one would also expect MM and HRC to place a positive spin on his current position in the title chase (remembering of course that in truth, 37 points with 16 races to go is not that much in this sport).

However, I do also admit that I doubt he is rattled by MV (of the bike riding variety, not of the forum type) in any way at all as to date, MM seems impervious to external pressures be they of bike variety or of the rider/media variety.

Now for fence sitting time.

Of course however, this time he has a rider of his own age, a rider whom he has not looked up to as a hero/idol, a rider who could well be a threat for not just 1 or 2 years, but a decade. In many ways, MV is MM's first real and genuine long term threat if MM is the type that looks at legacy and long term results rather than race on race.

That all said, MV is a threat, he is a competitor, he is good, he will be there for a while but he is not in MM's head anymore than MM is in MV's.

moto vudu · Apr 12, 2017

Hollywood said:
MM had the race in Argentina before he crashed, now going to Texas a place where he always wins, so no cause for panic just yet.

How do you figure MM had the race before he crashed on lap 4 of 22? At Argentina 2015, MM took off and created a 4+ second gap and he still found himself at the mercy of VR who ran him down. It's not how you start the race, it's how you finish it. MM did not have the race won.

michaelm · Apr 12, 2017

Gaz said:
IMO only, but just as one would expect Michelin to say 'all is ok' with their product, one would also expect MM and HRC to place a positive spin on his current position in the title chase (remembering of course that in truth, 37 points with 16 races to go is not that much in this sport).

However, I do also admit that I doubt he is rattled by MV (of the bike riding variety, not of the forum type) in any way at all as to date, MM seems impervious to external pressures be they of bike variety or of the rider/media variety.

Now for fence sitting time.

Of course however, this time he has a rider of his own age, a rider whom he has not looked up to as a hero/idol, a rider who could well be a threat for not just 1 or 2 years, but a decade. In many ways, MV is MM's first real and genuine long term threat if MM is the type that looks at legacy and long term results rather than race on race.

That all said, MV is a threat, he is a competitor, he is good, he will be there for a while but he is not in MM's head anymore than MM is in MV's.

I don't think he is intimidated or that Vinales is in his head or any other such psychobabble, just that 37 points is a big deficit to a rider who is looking like MM himself did in 2014; if he finishes 1st and Vinales 2nd in the next 7 races he is still behind.

This was why I was so irate about the over-ambition at Jerez in 2011 given Jorge's remorseless consistency at that stage in proceedings. Stoner did get back that year, but had the advantage of him and the Honda being the faster bike/rider combination, which I am not sure applies this year. Jorge also was taken out by another rider and scored no points within the next few races, and it is imo going to take something like that or a mechanical dnf from Vinales, which I don't wish on Maverick, to get a quick points turn around, because I just don't think Vinales is going to have his own share of self caused crashes. Clawing back will imo very much be the apposite phrase if MM is to get to the lead in the title race this year

p4p1 · Apr 12, 2017

It's possible Marquez is playing the long game as well. I said before Qatar that he is playing his cards very close to his chest. For all we know he may have sat down with Honda and the general discussion may have been that it'll be hard this year with the Yamaha in form but next year they'll have everything sorted and come out with a bike he can dominate on.

There will be a couple of races this year either in mixed or wet conditions which he should be able to make up some points(assuming that he'll be able to beat Vinaeles consistently), Pedrosa coming back into form could be a major factor for him and Honda. He's absolutely up against it this year and again he's on a worse bike than his strongest competitors but only a fool would count Marc Marquez out after 2 fly away rounds.

MdubSTYLIE · Apr 12, 2017

Gaz said:
IMO only, but just as one would expect Michelin to say 'all is ok' with their product, one would also expect MM and HRC to place a positive spin on his current position in the title chase (remembering of course that in truth, 37 points with 16 races to go is not that much in this sport).

However, I do also admit that I doubt he is rattled by MV (of the bike riding variety, not of the forum type) in any way at all as to date, MM seems impervious to external pressures be they of bike variety or of the rider/media variety.

Now for fence sitting time.

Of course however, this time he has a rider of his own age, a rider whom he has not looked up to as a hero/idol, a rider who could well be a threat for not just 1 or 2 years, but a decade. In many ways, MV is MM's first real and genuine long term threat if MM is the type that looks at legacy and long term results rather than race on race.

That all said, MV is a threat, he is a competitor, he is good, he will be there for a while but he is not in MM's head anymore than MM is in MV's.

MM is a hard character to figure out. I say hes a genius others say the opposite. I believe he has learned to keep his actual opinion to himself after his younger days of being chastised for making huge riding errors. He used to be very vocal about being right until one day he stopped. Stopped speaking up, stopped hurting people, and being criticized. What I'm getting at is he has shown the ability to adapt or change game plan on a whim. He is not afraid to try different things to win. So I truly don't think he is worried yet. Like jps said if 2015 didn't get to him this definitely won't.

JaseJaze · Apr 14, 2017

yeah I think mm will be just fine...but he shouldn't be too comfortable having crashed in the second round 2017...fingers crossed

Keshav · Apr 14, 2017

michaelm said:
I have to say that "he would say that" also applies to him.

If Vinales continues his current consistency allied with his known pedigree for infrequent dnfs MM already has a big problem in regard to this year's title imo. Doesn't mean he won't win it again next season though.

I know it's been said before - but it bares repeating, ie: it's early days and while MV is very consistent - one has to not lose sight of the fact that he's competing at higher level this year... and odds are there will be at least one DNF, mechanical, crash-related or otherwise. Remember how health issues and Bridgestone chicanery etc. plagued Stoner who we all deemed an unstoppable force.

Should MV treat us to a season of results that parallel that of Marquez's debut year, it would mean we have two confirmed "aliens" and that at the very least ought to assure us of compelling racing in coming seasons, and if Vale continues in the his current form - we can expect compound interest. I for one am really excited at the prospect.

MsBecca81 · Apr 17, 2017

I'm very excited for the race this weekend to see if MM can continue his reign in America.

I feel that MM doesn't feel pressure from MV or anyone really, he just has the pressure of being strong on the bike and winning period (like all top riders). If he can keep his head straight and his bike on the track, he'll be fine.

I hope for a good MM/MV dual this weekend.

Theo · Apr 17, 2017

The fact that MM says he's not feeling any pressure indicates to me he is otherwise why even mention it.

JPSLotus · Apr 17, 2017

Theo said:
The fact that MM says he's not feeling any pressure indicates to me he is otherwise why even mention it.

I believe Marc was directly asked if he was feeling pressure and he was responding in kind to it rather than bringing it up unprompted.

p4p1 · Apr 17, 2017

It makes sense. Coming into last year he had major issues with the bike and it looked like he may struggle to be competitive. On top of that and more importantly there was the fall out from 2015 and whatever pressure he may have felt whether self imposed or not to win and beat Rossi.

This year he was very competitive in testing, his race pace was better than Vinalaes at one or two tests. He knows Vinaeles has an equipment advantage right now but after last year he would have great confidence in Honda being able to make drastic improvements over the year, especially with electronics which is their major problem due to the new engine. He feels Qatar was not his fault but bad advice from Michelin. It will be made harder that he's starting the season 37 points down but he won last year by 40 or so points despite crashing 3 or 4 times. Even if the season keeps going the way it has so far I'm doubtful that he will feel as much pressure as he did at the end of 2015/start of 2016.

danski · Apr 17, 2017

If Rossi said his tyre choice was bad advice he'd be pilloried on here for making excuses for a poor performance.

JPSLotus · Apr 17, 2017

Daniboy said:
If Rossi said his tyre choice was bad advice he'd be pilloried on here for making excuses for a poor performance.

Funny for how all of your accusations of people being haters, biased, or conspiracy theorists, no one was talking about Rossi, yet you bring him up totally unprompted.

Obsessed much?

danski · Apr 17, 2017

JPSLotus said:
Funny for how all of your accusations of people being haters, biased, or conspiracy theorists, no one was talking about Rossi, yet you bring him up totally unprompted.

Obsessed much?

Double standards of this forum much?
Changing the topic much?

JPSLotus · Apr 17, 2017

Daniboy said:
Double standards of this forum much?
Changing the topic much?

Who brought up Rossi?

That's all on you buddy.

Little Walter · Apr 17, 2017

Daniboy said:
If Rossi said his tyre choice was bad advice he'd be pilloried on here for making excuses for a poor performance.

Rossi died, for somebody's sins... but not mine. :nopity:

Seriously mate, get yourself a hair shirt and be done with it.

Marquez feels less pressure than 2016 despite Vinales threat

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