* DOTD = Data of the Day *
Photo sourced from MotoGP.com
The wait for the 2020 season is nearly over as teams have begun making their way to the Circuito de Jerez! With next week being the first official race week for the MotoGP riders, it is hard to say who will fall in the limelight as almost every rider sits in a unique situation. Whether it be coming back from surgery or injury, a team change, a rookie debut or a perhaps sitting in a hot seat in terms of contract renewal, the breathing room is tight as the grid continues to surge in competitiveness.
Repsol Honda rider, Marc Marquez is sure to fall in the spotlight next weekend as he returns to the circuit after a prolonged recovery from a shoulder surgery he underwent last winter. In addition, expectations are high as the reigning World Champion recently signed a 4 year contract extension with Repsol Honda, binding the dream team through 2024.
Today’s data of the day is going to look back at the 2019 Jerez Grand Prix, specifically, our analysis around Marc Marquez prior to and after the Spanish race. Needless to say, the areas that we had identified as room for improvement were fully fulfilled as Marc Marquez took his 2nd win of the season at the Circuito de Jerez.
Pre-Race
After a seventh pole position in Austin, Texas and an unforgettable low slide, Marc Marquez passed on the winning title at the Grand Prix of the Americas to Suzuki rider, Alex Rins. The 2018 World Champion will be entering the first European GP of the year with a point to prove. Although Marquez hasn’t landed pole position in Jerez within the past four years, he does hold the strongest historical speed index out of all riders which is a significant advantage over some others who are still finding harmony with their bikes. With a 1st place podium finish at Jerez in 2018, the Spanish rider is looking to gain as many points as he can to move up in championship rankings (4th place isn’t sitting too well…). We are hoping to see an improvement in consistency from Marquez to match his dominant speed.
Post-Race
Repsol Honda rider Marc Marquez had quite the comeback at yesterday’s race with one of his classic “check out wins” where he lead the pack for the entire race. With a great start off the grid from P3, Marquez was off and running. Holding the strongest average speed index for all sectors combined, #93 crossed the finish line just 1.6 seconds ahead of Alex Rins. Let’s get down to the nitty gritty… Marquez OWNED sectors 1 and 3. We’re talking dominant in both consistency and speed. And hey, guess what? T3 is the longest of the four sectors with T1 close behind. Gaining ground through the longer sectors, Marquez was able to begin distancing himself from the pack and focus on finding his groove.