Marc Marquez on TT: “I ride to have fun, not to endanger my life”

Marc Marquez has offered a rather blunt assessment of the Isle of Man TT, saying that while he has full respect for those that compete on the legendary road race, he says he ‘doesn’t like it’.

The six-time MotoGP World Champion has carved a reputation as one of, if not ‘the best’ grand prix riders of the modern generation.

However, it is the mystical appeal of the Isle of Man TT that often sees it referred to as the greatest motorsport event in the world. Running for more than a century now, the TT’s long and fast layout leaves no margin for error.

Though modern day GP riders wouldn’t consider entering the TT alongside their commitment – unlike former days when the Giacomo Agostini was as quick around the Manx island as he was at Assen – they do often put in a appearance, not least Valentino Rossi who completed a lap in 2009.

However, don’t expect Marquez to be going out of his way to visit anytime soon, flatly declaring he races to have fun and ‘not to suffer and endanger life’.

"I have a lot of respect for the riders that race there, but I don't like it,” he told GPOne.com

"I like to have fun, to enjoy riding, to look for the limit; to go to the Isle of Man is to gamble away your life, that's how I see it. I ride bikes to have fun, not to suffer and endanger my life.”

Between 1907 and 2019, a total of 151 riders have lost their life while competing on the Isle of Man TT.