Marc Marquez lands in Austin, one of his favorite 'playgrounds,' and the pressure on the Spaniard's shoulders in terms of expectations is star-studded, if you'll pardon the joke.
Compounded by a start to the season that to call it perfect would be reductive, Marc likes facing the aforementioned expectations just fine, leaving more to the doubts of his rivals, who will have to find a way to oust the sheriff who boasts a seven-win resume at the track.
Admittedly, none of these on a Ducati, which, however, won here with Bastianini in the past and therefore seems to have nothing to fear, although the error is always just around the corner.
And it is perhaps precisely the fear of making a mistake, of soiling such a perfect start to the season, that is worrying the Spaniard, who admits to journalists 'to always look in the negative' so as not to get carried away too much by enthusiasm, even if it is not easy.
As for then the in-family challenge with his brother Alex, the Spaniard makes things clear: no need for psychological games, what counts is only speed on the track, while on Bagnaia he reassures: 'if he is not with the bike he is still on the podium, in Europe the real championship will begin and he will be a rival for the title."
You had a perfect start to the season, have you ever arrived here at CoTA with better feelings?
"It's clear that we have started the championship in the best possible way," Marc began, "with each session the feeling on the bike is improving.
I feel comfortable both on the track and with the team which is important. We have to stay focused though, because for example in my best season in MotoGP in 2019, I made my only mistake on this very track."
After a start to the season like yours, everyone is convinced that you will repeat the resutls here in Austin. Do you feel the pressure of expectations?
"I know that the expectations on me are getting higher and higher race after race, and the results in the past weekends didn't help. I think it's better to face expectations than doubts.
That's why I was remembering 2019, I always try to think about the negative side as well to avoid problems and that overconfidence that can create obstacles for us. Tomorrow we will see our level and that of our opponents."
You hold the record of wins on this circuit, if you don't win on Sunday, it wouldn't be a disaster maybe but it would be a surprise.
"As I often say, not everything is always under our control. We will have to try not to exaggerate and not to make mistakes."
Do you think that if this battle with your brother goes on in this championship, there will need to be a struggle on the psychological level as well?
"I've always said it, I don't believe in psychological warfare, and I know my brother well. The best psychological warfare, the best way to win, is to be fast on the track.
It has always been like that, in the past as in the present. You can be a real politician in words but if you don't find the results on the track there is no war.
With Alex as brother everyone has his own team and does his own job, then it is clear that it happens that we exchange opinions but this does not affect and everyone gives 100% on the track."
How do you see Bagnaia instead?
"I see him as strong. It's clear, in this beginning of the championship he had some difficulties but the real championship will start in Europe. He already got some points in the first races, but there we will clearly see the level of each of us.
Personally I see him well and calm, and although he is not comfortable with the bike he is still always on the podium. So I still think he will be a rival in every race and a rival for the title this year."
You have a winning record here in Austin. Would you like to tackle more circuits here in the United States?
"Sure, and then most of the circuits here turn left! - Marc joked - so let's do it."
In Italy you have been likened to Hamilton, do you think you have something in common with him?
"He also changed home this year, and he jumped on a red car," the Spaniard joked again, "and he already got a good result in the sprint in China.
For me it is a pleasure to be put together with Lewis Hamilton, he is not only a great driver, he is a superstar. We have different styles of course, but it's always nice to be juxtaposed with great athletes, regardless of what sport they belong to."
It seems that Martin will be here at CoTA to bond better with the Aprilia team.
"I think it's good for him and for Aprilia. We need the number one rider on the track and we need a competitive Aprilia, the more riders the more the championship benefits.
It's a good strategy, and this could perhaps mean that we will see him on track as early as Qatar, so it's important for a rider to adapt not only to the bike but also to the team."
For this weekend you will also wear a helmet with a special livery.
"I like to introduce a different design here in Austin because ... we are in the United States after all! It's a special circuit, this time we were inspired by those custom speed shops, it has a design I like, I hope the fans like it too and it would be nice to be able to bring it to the podium."
