Marquez: Rins a MotoGP title contender with no pressure

Marc Marquez says Alex Rins would always become a MotoGP world title contender with Suzuki but feels he has it easier with no pressure from expectations placed on him.

The Repsol Honda rider has regained the championship lead with victory at the Spanish MotoGP and now leads the standings by just one point from Rins who finished in second place in Jerez.

After the title fight was expected to be solely between Marquez and Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso, many have tipped Rins for a championship charge given his consistent performances at the start of 2019. Rins has secured four consecutive top five results at the start of the season including a maiden premier class win which came last time out in the United States.

Marquez duly believes Rins will stay in the title battle as the season progresses but feels he could have an advantage with no expectations set on him from the outside or by Suzuki.

“Ever since the Malaysia test I said Alex would be there as Alex finished in a good way last season,” Marquez said. “He started in a good way this season and is riding a very good way in the pre-season.

“His strongest point is he doesn’t have pressure at the moment, but I am sure it will arrive.

“At the moment if he finishes second he is very happy but if it is first it is amazing. If it is third place he is also happy.

“Now it is another opponent for the title and he is ready to fight for the championship and so is the bike too. This is important and important for the championship to have more manufacturers fighting for the title.”

Marquez was left extremely satisfied by the nature of his victory in Jerez has he dominated leading from the first corner to the finish and controlled his pace throughout. The reigning MotoGP world champion says he intended to control the race in a similar way to his Americas MotoGP run before he crashed out to give himself redemption.

“I am happy, happy to win this fantastic race and I am especially happy to do it in this way,” he explained. “This was the target, the intention, as after Austin I wanted to arrive here and try to win on the same way and we did. It was a passionate race.

“On the first lap I didn’t have the feeling so I said okay we wait. I was going wide at few times maybe with the wind or the track conditions but when the tyres started to drop and I started to slide more a few times then I said okay let’s go like in practice so I started to attack but always under control.

“Then I saw Fabio was coming, Rins and on Lap 15 I attacked and attacked because then you show the opponents I am here [for race pace].

“Then I tried to control and I was happy. Happy with the way Honda is working because we fixed many problems this weekend.”