Marquez: Time until Jerez seemed longer than ever...
'The time between America and here has seemed longer than ever…' – Marc Marquez, Spanish MotoGP.
Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez is eager to get back on track and turn the page on his shock Austin error during this weekend's first home Spanish event of the year, at Jerez.
The Repsol Honda star looked on course for a seventh successive COTA win until he fell from a comfortable lead on lap nine.
That error also cost Marquez the early title lead and he has now dropped to fourth in the world championship, albeit only nine points behind new leader Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati).
"Jerez is always a special race because it is the first in Europe and there’s a lot of support from the Spanish fans," Marquez said.
"Of course we approach it the same as any weekend, with how tight the championship is we must make the most of every moment on track.
"The time between America and here has seemed longer than ever, I’m looking forward to getting back out on my bike.”
Marquez won last year's Jerez race by over five-seconds after closest rivals Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso were eliminated in a dramatic clash on lap 18 of 25.
Substantial resurfacing has taken place since last November's Jerez test, where Marquez set the second fastest lap time behind LCR's Takaaki Nakagami before heading for shoulder surgery.
The three race victories so far this season have been gone to Dovizioso, Marquez and Alex Rins respectively.
As well as Marquez and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, HRC test rider Stefan Bradl will also take part as a wild-card this weekend.
