The Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España had everything you could ask for, ending the weekend with many talking points as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) charged to victory at Jerez after a stunning head-to-head battle against Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), while the gap to the Championship leader was reduced after Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) crashed.
Here is a rundown of what some riders had to say about these hot topics and more!
“You have to get your elbows out”
It was an intense battle throughout the Spanish GP, with strategy, overtakes, and contact all coming into play in the fight for the lead between Bagnaia and Marquez. Bagnaia recalls the battle fondly and describes what it is like to battle against the #93.
“The fight with Marc was intense. You know that when you fight with Marc, you have to get your elbows out. It was a nice battle for me, and it was smart as when we touched each other, normally when you make this kind of contact, the rider on the inside can crash. He was smart to pick up the bike, and I was smart to remain with some lean angle because I was doing more or less the same as what happened yesterday. Everything went perfectly, and the second time he tried again, I just tried to push to open the gap for the final laps.”
“It’s a pleasure to fight”
Marquez came out second best at the Spanish GP; however, the eight-time World Champion believes that he learned from Bagnaia at the Spanish GP and some areas to be able to improve.
“It’s respect plus rivalry, for me, as I said in Portimao to him, it’s a pleasure to fight against the World Champion. Today, once again, I was on his level, and I was fighting against him, and I had enough speed to try to overtake him. So, for me, it has already been a pleasure to learn from him. He still has some strong points, stronger points than me. Let’s see if, in the future, I can be even closer to him.”
“I didn’t expect to crash”
Jorge Martin took an impressive Sprint victory on Saturday, but while leading the Spanish GP on Sunday, the #89 crashed. Martin is yet to understand why the crash happened after feeling confident throughout the weekend.
“I was trying to maintain a consistent pace of around 1:37.9, 1:38.0. I think this was a decent pace for me to keep the lead at that point of the race. I was trying to save some of my rear tyre for the end of the race and remained focused and confident. I didn't expect to crash in that place because it was really early into the corner, and I was straight. We need to understand what happened so it does not happen again.”
“Struggling the whole weekend”
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) came into the Spanish GP with two consecutive podiums at Portimao and COTA. However, after a crash in qualifying, the rookie charged to an impressive second in the Sprint but could only manage to finish in 10th on Sunday, with some issues at race starts that are costing the #31 crucial positions.
“We were struggling the whole weekend. Every Pierer Mobility bike was. The reason I was struggling today was not the big tank or the medium tyre or whatever - it was at the start. At the moment, I can’t make a good start; it's easy to lose places because of this. It was not because of the fuel tank.”
“Problems with arm pump”
Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) had a tough Spanish GP, crashing in the Tissot Sprint and receiving an eight-second penalty – finishing in 15th position. On Sunday, Rins finished 13th – finishing as the top Yamaha. However, the #42 said there was more than met the eye about his physical condition throughout the race.
“Since the first race in Qatar, I've been having problems with arm pump. I tried to give my maximum. When the bike doesn't work in the best way possible, I am trying to ride the bike the way that I usually do, but it's difficult. It's tough.”
Rins' teammate Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) also suffered from similar arm pump issues throughout the weekend - especially towards the end of Sunday's Spanish GP.
“I forced my bike to turn while I was on the brakes a lot, and from the middle of the race, I had an issue with my arms. So, from mid-race to the end, I had to slow down. I was then riding really tense and tight on the bike; I was not great. So, the last 10 laps, I won’t say cruising because I could not ride.”
“I’ve been rock bottom before”
Jack Miller (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed in both the Sprint (finishing 13th) and the Spanish GP on Sunday (DNF). The changes made to the Australian’s bike on Sunday helped Miller understand what direction is needed to improve.
“There was a lot of vibration. We made a big change again today, making the bike quite a bit longer just to try and understand. It seems to be that with this new rear tyre we're suffering a little bit more with twitching. You can't create a nice slide, it's either pumping or it's hooked up, or it's nothing.
“I've been rock bottom before, and fingers crossed we're at it now, and we can build back up. Like I said, all we can do is stay positive, keep working, keep the training going, keep the playing going, and it'll turn around. It'll turn around. Hard work for days, and we'll be alright.”