Marc Marquez criticises MotoGP promotional stress: “We are athletes”

MotoGP wants to grow and make its stars more accessible to fans and sponsors. For the riders, this means additional commitments during race weekends that are already packed full. Marc Marquez does not fundamentally question the marketing of the championship. However, he is calling for greater consideration to be given to the sporting needs of the riders.

At Mandalika, the Ducati factory rider was asked about an announced fine of 5,000 euros for failing to attend a promotional event. His response focused less on the amount of the potential penalty than on the fundamental question of how much additional strain should be expected of the riders.

“As riders, we want MotoGP to grow and get bigger and bigger. I’m the first to want that. But I think there are various ways to let our sport grow without putting the riders under so much pressure. That’s my impression,” explained Márquez.

Little breathing space between events

The Spaniard had already sparked a debate at the previous race weekend in Motegi by pulling out of the kart race on Sunday morning. Instead of competing himself, he sent a stand-in. Márquez wanted to have his injured right shoulder treated and did not want to take any additional risks ahead of the actual race.

Marc Marquez' Double wurde ausgeschlossen, der Spanier bekam einen Rüffel

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His latest comments show that this isn’t just about a single event. On top of the championship’s official schedule, there are commitments to his team’s partners and work with the engineers. On Sundays in particular, there’s little breathing space between the individual items on the programme.

“We’ve got a lot to do these days, because it’s not just about the MotoGP dates. Over the weekend, we also have sponsor engagements and meetings. On Sunday, the warm-up is added to that. Afterwards, we quickly get changed, head to the riders’ parade, then to the Hero Walk with huge crowds. After that, we come back and have another briefing on the warm-up, because there wasn’t time for it beforehand,” explained Márquez.

New MotoGP schedule adds to the stress

It is precisely this debriefing that forms part of the immediate preparation for the race. The feedback from the warm-up needs to be cross-referenced with the data, and any final adjustments discussed. At the same time, the riders need time to prepare themselves physically and mentally for the race distance.

“At the end of the day, we’re athletes. Next year, the schedule will be even busier. The time spent in the race and on the track will remain the same, but everything will be more intense,” emphasised the Spaniard, referring to the new schedule, which includes separate qualifying sessions for the Sprint and Grand Prix.

Marquez thus supports the aim of expanding MotoGP, but calls for a more measured approach to its implementation. The riders are the championship’s most prominent figures. For him, however, they must still be given sufficient space between public appearances to fulfil their actual role: delivering top performances on the racetrack.

Willkommen zum Rennen in Mandalika

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Willkommen zum Rennen in Mandalika

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