Gresini Ducati’s Marc Marquez rued “unlucky” circumstances that prevented him from mounting a serious podium charge during MotoGP’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
Marquez was once again the star candidate on the year-old GP23 Ducati machinery, joining future factory Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia and Pramac’s Jorge Martin on the front row in Austria.
The GP24 pairing were a cut above the rest of the field, but Marquez found himself second during the Sprint, giving chase to Bagnaia before losing the front of his Gresini machine in the latter stages of the short-race format.
Then, Marquez’s preparations in Sunday’s Grand Prix were hampered by a tyre pressure malfunction in the build-up to the race and a failed ride height device at lights out.
Speaking on the former issue, Marquez said “Today we were unlucky,” (via Crash.net).
“Unlucky, because 30 minutes before the start, when the mechanics went to check the tyre pressure, the valve was broken.
“And then, as you see in the [TV] images, they were running to Michelin to change the tyre to another rim.
“But during that procedure, that was super good and they did a very good job, the tyre temperature dropped a lot. And then that chaos created everything.”
With tyre pressures at the forefront of his mind, Marquez ran into ride height issues, with his front device failing to engage as the race started.
This meant the Spaniard was swallowed up by the rest of the field, leaving him powerless as he received contact from multiple riders.
“I mean, on the [warm-up] lap, I was more concentrated to put temperature into the front tyre,” Marquez explained.
“Then on the last straight, I braked and engaged well the front device – but then I braked again [to try and heat the front tyre] and it disengaged [the device]. And then I didn’t have enough speed [to engage it again on the grid].
“Without that front device, it was difficult to start well. But I was super calm on the first corner.
“I said ‘OK, I will brake early to don’t exaggerate and let’s see’. But then I received a big contact from the left side and we went wide. And from 13th place, we start step by step.”
Overhead pictures showed both Marquez and Pramac’s Franco Morbidelli running deep into Turn 1 as a result of the opening lap chaos.
However, from being demoted to 13th, Marquez put together a solid ride to pick off the opposition throughout the 28-lap contest to finish fourth.
Marquez knew he had the pace to clinch a podium all being well and his overall review of the Austrian GP was a positive one in terms of his feeling with the bike.
“This weekend was one of the best: The feeling with the bike, the speed on the practice, on the qualifying practice, on [fastest in] the warm-up. But 0 points yesterday and a 4th place today.
“But the speed I enjoyed a lot this weekend and is there.”
