Marc Marquez impressed by Scott Redding’s form

Reigning Moto2 world champion Marc Marquez says he has been impressed at how Scott Redding has added consistency to his speed after the British rider’s brilliant start to 2013.

Redding arrives in Barcelona this weekend for round six of the series with a commanding 43-point lead having become the first British rider in the intermediate class for over 40 years to score back-to-back wins.

Redding broke his Moto2 victory duck in Le Mans last month and then delivered a stunning performance to dominate last time out in Mugello.
The Marc VDS Racing rider has flourished on the new Kalex machine while pre-season title favourite Pol Espargaro has found it difficult to live with Redding’s red-hot form.

The Spaniard hasn’t won since he narrowly edged out Redding in the season’s floodlit opener in Qatar and he desperately needs a win on home soil in Barcelona this weekend to spark fresh impetus into his championship challenge.

Repsol Honda rider Marquez, who has been the sensation of the season in MotoGP, told MCN that the difference between the Redding of 2012 and this season was consistency.

The 20-year-old from Gloucestershire has won two races, claimed two second places and two pole positions in the first five races and Marquez told MCN: “Everybody knew from last year that Scott was already very fast but he didn’t have that consistency. But this year he has found that. He has found a compromise of a good pace and consistency, so this is what he lost a little bit last year.”

Marquez’s main rival for the 2012 Moto2 crown was Espargaro, so naturally he was installed as a big pre-season favourite.

But he has struggled with rear grip and Marquez said it could be that Espargaro is finding it difficult to cope with the immense pressure he is under to deliver the crown.
Marquez added: “For Pol it will be difficult because Scott is fast and also many riders are fast and for Pol to ride with that pressure is difficult. I had that pressure last year and it was very difficult because if you make some mistake or you a little bit far off the pace everybody starts asking you questions. For a rider when you finish second in the world championship it is normal that you have that pressure.”