Repsol Honda Team manager Alberto Puig analyses the ninth win for Marc Márquez this season and the fifth position for Dani Pedrosa at Sepang.
The penultimate round of the 2018 MotoGP season, the Malaysian Grand Prix, saw the 70th victory for Marc Márquez in the Repsol Honda Team’s 400th Grand Prix. The World Champion went from seventh position of the grid to following race leader Valentino Rossi, until the Italian made a mistake to let him through. Dani Pedrosa also made a great comeback, starting from the fourth row of the grid and crossing the finish in fifth place.
What was the strategy for the Sepang race?
“Marc’s strategy was try to start well because he was starting from the third row and wanted to see who was in the lead group. He had to save his tyres because we didn’t know how good they would be at the end of the race. He wanted to stay up front and then fight for the victory, as he did. Marc pushed in the last laps, but we didn’t expect Valentino [Rossi] to be so strong. Marc forced him and forced him until he made a mistake.”
Positive points and negative points after race?
“The positive is Marc’s victory, his ninth this season, plus Honda’s 24th Constructors World Championship in the premier class and also Dani’s result, because he made a step forward, improving compared to the last races. We will have the chance at Valencia to win the triple crown.”
The view from pit wall during race?
“We saw a very defensive fight from Valentino. It was surprising – great merit to him and he fought until the end.”
Inside story apart from official comments?
“It’s been a busy week with some events with sponsors and the Honda Asian Journey once again, where all the Honda riders had the opportunity to meet their fans. About Sepang, the atmosphere was amazing once more, with more than 100,000 enthusiastic fans.”
