Marquez poised for title shot, ‘rubbing is racing’

MotoGP News

Date: 14/October/2013

Rookie Marc Marquez will have the first of three chances to win the 2013 MotoGP title next weekend in Australia.

Marquez finished second to Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa in Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix, but extended his points’ advantage to 43 by emerging on top of a thrilling dice with nearest title rival Jorge Lorenzo.

Marquez said: “It was a nice battle with Jorge. I enjoyed it a lot, but at the same time Dani got away. When finally I overtook Jorge I tried to reduce the gap, but it was too much risk.

“The target this weekend was to finish in front of Jorge, so we did well. We increased the championship lead by four points. That is most important. Now we need to keep the same mentality because it is working so well.”

Marquez had been handed one further ‘penalty point’ for contact with Pedrosa at the previous Aragon round. Yet it was Lorenzo - who has criticised Marquez’s attacking style - who caused contact at Sepang.

TV footage clearly showed the pair touch when Lorenzo dived for the inside during their daring battle, yet the Yamaha rider said: “We passed I think three, four, five times and I don’t think we touched. But if we did it was just a little bit. I didn’t feel a big touch.”

Marquez confirmed the contact: “In one overtake I felt some contact, but it was ok. This is racing. He overtook me on the inside. I didn’t expect it. We had some contact, but in that moment it was so exciting.”

Pedrosa stayed just out of reach to claim his third win of the season and first since round four at Le Mans. But it is too late to save his title chances, Pedrosa is a massive 53 points behind Marquez with only 75 still available

Pedrosa, who damaged his hip in the Aragon fall, caused by a broken sensor in the contact with Marquez, said: “I am very happy with this win, as it is very special. The victory comes after a difficult week - in which I was laid up in bed and could hardly move.

“It's just a shame because we had a similar pace at the last race at Aragon so it could have been two in a row… With Marc finishing on the podium every time it is very hard to take back any points. Focusing on each race is what we have to do.”