This Thursday, Motorsport.com explained that Alex Márquez will leave Honda at the end of the season and will look for a future that allows him to grow as a rider at the handlebars of another brand, quite possibly a Ducati from the Gresini team.
Lucio Cecchinello himself admitted the departure of his team from the Spanish corridor.
“We understand perfectly that it is becoming more and more difficult for Alex to have the illusion of staying with a bike that, unfortunately, is not being as competitive as he deserves for his work and dedication,” he told Motorsport.com.
“We are going to continue to give Alex the best we can until the end, but it is difficult for him to find the motivation if he sees that he does not have access to good results,” added the LCR boss.
Speaking with Alex Márquez this Friday at Assen, the rider did not want to confirm or deny the information.
“What is decided in the end will be because I believe it, and because I think that in that aspect I will improve, be it on one side or the other,” he explained about his decision.
“It is clear that all the steps that are taken are with enthusiasm and desire. Lucio knows the current situation and that it is not easy for a pilot,” he warned.
“But it’s what I told him, I’m still the same one who got on the podium twice in 2020, with a bike that worked relatively well, because I came from a very good base. We managed to be constant and fast at the end of the year, he knows that there is potential.”
“But I insist, I have nothing to blame the team for, they have worked day and night to improve, only that we have not had the weapons to be able to bring out, not only my potential, but that of the entire team, where there are very professional people” , argued the Moto3 and Moto2 world champion.
At the end of the day, in dry conditions, Alex finished 13th on the time sheet, but in the morning, in the wet, he was fourth fastest.
“Many times we have seen riders that with a bike that doesn’t work in the dry, then in the water they go well, it’s a matter of sensations and we had a good base in the wet in Portimao. You don’t depend so much on the reactions of the bike or stress it so much I wish it would rain all weekend, but it’s not going to happen. In water, because of my style, I’ve always defended myself well.”
In the afternoon, in dry conditions, things changed and Alex no longer enjoyed the ride.
“No, honestly I’m not enjoying myself on the bike. Here the feeling is not bad at all, but the times are going to drop a lot and the problem is the same as always. I’m not riding dry as I would like and I can’t extract my potential. But it is what it is and we will continue working as usual”.
Finally, they reminded the youngest of the Márquez of the negative statistical data of the Sachsenring, where Honda was left without scoring for the first time in 40 years.
“Many factors came together, but the bottom was reached in some way. But you have to ask HRC, Alberto Puig and Takeo more about that, for our part we continue to work and believe that it can be turned around,” he settled so kindly and correct as always, despite being one of the victims of the RC213V of 2022.
