To say that the expectations surrounding Marc Marquez's performance on the eve of the first Sprint of the season were high would be an understatement. In the hot air of the Buriram paddock, no one would have bet against the Spaniard being one of the protagonists, thanks also to the competitiveness shown during the tests and in the free practice sessions of the weekend.
By taking pole and the victory over 13 laps, Marc Marquez thus framed "the perfect Saturday", as he will later tell journalists with a smile, also thanks to the not unexpected presence of his brother at his side on the podium.
Irrespective of the satisfaction, Marc does not deny that he tried to stay away from the hype generated around him, not fully succeeding. His adventure in Ducati therefore starts in the best possible way, but Marquez prefers to keep his feet on the ground.
To those who ask him if this is the best bike-team-rider trio, the Spaniard replies "It's only a Saturday, we'll know in November", before adding a cryptic "I'm trying not to exaggerate", a sign that times have changed and that perhaps we haven't seen everything of Marquez on the Ducati yet.
What is certain is that the 26-lap race on Sunday will be a completely different test, potentially higher temperatures, and rivals like Bagnaia, "a strong rider on Sunday" the Spaniard underlines, will be even more aggressive.
The expectations were high, did you feel the same sensations you felt last year, when you returned to being competitive on the Ducati?
"Today was an important day because the expectations were high - Marc begins - I tried to use my experience to not let it influence me, but in the end something arrived and it was a perfect Saturday, from qualifying to pole, to the victory in the sprint. It was the best way to start the new adventure with the new team in Ducati.
Seeing my brother with me on the podium made me even happier. But it's only the first Saturday of the year, just one Saturday, and in this sport everything can change from one day to the next.
I'm happy, but I don't want to be too happy, because I know that tomorrow I will have to face a demanding race".
It seemed that you still had something to give in your throttle hand, can you quantify it?
"It's hard to say, because when you go 100% you tend to make mistakes. I tried to keep my distance from the second rider, what I've understood in all these years of MotoGP is that it makes no difference if you win with three seconds of gap or just one.
So today I managed that margin, trying to see what I could improve in view of tomorrow's race.
Maybe in 2 or 3 points I have a margin, but exploiting it I could run a risk, who knows. Today I faced the race riding at ease".
Marc Marquez's best rival is Marc Marquez himself?
"It's one of the points I've been working on all weekend and in the pre-season. I'm trying not to exaggerate, I feel fast and full of confidence on the bike but I mustn't exaggerate because on many occasions in the past it was my rival. Excess confidence is what leads you to exaggerate.
Sometimes I struggle to see the limit, I don't understand it, and instead it's important to find it".
What do you think you can still improve?
"The goal will be to find the same sensations as today, I can certainly still improve in the third sector, I know where I could recover a few tenths but I would have to take some risks.
I did some test laps, but the most important thing will be the sensations on the track. Maybe tomorrow some riders will be faster, like Ogura today. In that case, it will be important to finish the race".
Can this bike also help you a lot in terms of mentality, in making things easier for you?
"I've said it many times, when you have speed it seems like you are the best strategist, the most ready, that you have a different mentality, but it's simply a question of speed. There are times when there can be riders who are faster than others, and you have to be at the limit to follow them.
At the moment I'm feeling good on the bike, but above all I'm trying not to exaggerate. I'm also bonding well with the team, which is important, they understand what I need to be fast and this is a key point, but we have to remember that it's only the first race".
There has also been a lot of talk about how much you found yourself in tune with Dall'Igna. Having his support is an additional help.
"Dall'Igna and Ducati had faith in me, now what I can do is give my all and be professional in the garage and on the track. I will always try to obtain the best, there will be times when I will succeed and others when I won't, but I repeat, it's only the first race weekend".
Compared to the tests, you have also improved in the starts.
"The bike is slightly different now, on the rear it is lower compared to last year's. We also worked on the electronics and now we have found a great base. Tomorrow we will try to repeat the result, for now the most important things are qualifying and the starts".
What do you think about starting the season on a circuit where tests have just taken place?
"Starting on a circuit where tests have taken place means more difficulty in overtaking, and it is less possible to make the difference because everyone already has a good base. This morning I tried to improve our base but we went back on our steps. But you also have to understand the costs, because for a satellite team it is a great help".
You also used a new aerodynamics on the seat, what does it do?
"I don't know - admits the Spaniard - I put it on this morning and we don't have a real comparison yet. They asked me if I wanted to use it and I agreed".
In your career you went from 125 to Moto2 to MotoGP. Why is the transition from the first to the second so difficult for a rider?
"From 125 to Moto2 was the most difficult transition, mainly because you went from a two-stroke to a four-stroke. But the weight was also very different. It is true that from Moto2 to MotoGP it is even more so, but the balance of the bike is different and you feel it less. I felt the weight of the Moto2 more than in MotoGP. So the transition from 125 was more difficult for that reason".
Is this really the best rider on the best bike in the best team?
"My team is, the bike too. I will tell you about the rider in November. It's the reality, the championship is still long, everything can change between one race and another, or from one day to the next.
Tomorrow I expect a competitive Pecco, he is a strong rider on raceday Sunday and he showed it last year, so tomorrow morning we will try to be competitive. Alex's pace surprised me because the third was further away, so I think Alex will be a candidate for victory tomorrow".
