So far it is not clear whether Marc Márquez will be fighting for points again this weekend in Texas. It remains to be seen whether the unsuccessful HRC managers can take responsibility for a start.
Stefan Bradl does not yet know whether he will take part in practice for the Red Bull US Grand Prix on the Circuit of the Americas in Austin/Texas next Friday. When he arrived in Argentina, he expected that Marc Márquez would miss two races after the warm-up crash in Mandalika. But after the first practice with the Honda CBR 600RR at the beginning of this week, the Márquez comeback could actually take place in America at the weekend.
Marc Márquez has won seven races in Texas, most recently on October 3, 2021. “I flew to New York for a short trip and will be in Austin on Wednesday evening at 10 p.m.,” said Stefan Bradl. “I think by then it will have been decided whether Marc will come to Texas. If Marc drives himself, I will probably work for ServusTV. Otherwise I’ll be back in the Repsol team.”
“Marc has to know for himself how he decides,” explained the 32-year-old Bavarian, who will definitely compete in Jerez on May 1st with a wildcard. “No one can influence him anyway, because he has won the world championship eight times with his concept. I have no idea if Marc will come back next weekend. I haven’t heard anything new from Alberto Puig on the subject either. He’ll still be on his way to Texas himself.”
“Las Termas was a good track to warm up and get into race mode. Termas de Río Hondo was wide from the corner radii, the layout was fluid, there are few hard braking maneuvers there. The track in Texas, on the other hand, with 21 turns, is quite the most demanding and difficult on the GP calendar, »says Bradl.
Immediately after Márquez’s wild warm-up crash on the Mandalika Circuit, there was speculation about a break until Portimão (April 24) or even le Mans (May 15).
But Marc Márquez now sees that championship leader Aleix Espargaró has enough 45 points in three races to lead the championship. While he had to go for a walk for six weeks after the double vision in the autumn, he was able to juggle again after two weeks this time.
That’s why HRC has so far neither confirmed nor denied Bradl’s appearance in Texas.
The fact is: Since the best Honda driver (Pol Espargaró) is only 10th in the Drivers’ World Championship and Honda is sixth and last in the Manufacturers’ World Championship, Marc is urgently needed as a figurehead at Repsol-Honda.
MotoGP result, Termas (April 3):
1. Aleix Espargaró, Aprilia, 41: 36,198 min
2. Martin, Ducati, + 0.807 sec
3. Rins, Suzuki, + 1,330
4. Mir, Suzuki, +1.831
5. Bagnaia, Ducati, + 5,840
6. Brad Binder, KTM, + 6,192
7. Vinales, Aprilia, +6,540
8. Quartararo, Yamaha, + 10.215
9. Bezzecchi, Ducati, + 12,622
10. Bastianini, Ducati, + 12,987
11. Marini, Ducati, + 13.962
12. Nakagami, Honda, +14,002
13. Oliveira, KTM, + 14,456
14. Miller, Ducati, + 14,898
15. Alex Marquez, Honda, +23,472
16. Fernández, KTM, + 25,862
17. Gardner, KTM, + 28,711
18. Darryn Binder, Yamaha, + 28,784
19. Bradl, Honda, +31,943
20. Dovizioso, Yamaha, +3 laps
– Di Giannantonio, Ducati
– Pol Espargaro, Honda
– Morbidelli, Yamaha
– Zarco, Ducati
Championship status after 3 of 21 Grand Prix:
1. Aleix Espargaró 45 Punkte. 2. Brad Binder 38. 3. Bastianini 36. 4. Rins 36. 5. Quartararo 35. 6. Mir 33. 7. Oliveira 28. 8. Zarco 24. 9. Martin 20. 10. Pol Espargaro 20. 11. Miller 15. 12. Morbidelli 14. 13. Viñales 13. 14. Bagnaia 12. 15. Marc Márquez 11. 16. Nakagami 10. 17. Marini 10. 18. Bezzecchi 7. 19. Darryn Binder 6. 20. Alex Márquez 4. 21. Dovizioso 2. 22. Gardner 1.
Constructors’ Championship:
1. Ducati 61 Punkte. 2. KTM 55. 3. Aprilia 45. 4. Suzuki 37. 5. Yamaha 35. 6. Honda 24.
Team-WM:
1. Suzuki Ecstar 69 Punkte. 2. Red Bull KTM Factory 66. 3. Aprilia Racing 58. 4. Monster Energy Yamaha 49. 5. Pramac Racing 44. Gresini Racing MotoGP 36. 7. Repsol Honda 31. 8. Ducati Lenovo 27. 9. Mooney VR46 Racing 17. 10. LCR Honda 14. 11. WithU Yamaha RNF 8. 12. Tech3 KTM Factory, 1.