Hard work pays off for Marquez and for Honda

The hard work of pre-season testing has paid off for Marc Marquez and for Honda, according to the double world champion as he took his first win of the 2016 season in Argentina.

Struggling all throughout winter testing to get a comfortable setting on the Repsol Honda, he says that Sunday’s result is a fair reward for their efforts.

“I’m really happy with this win because we’ve worked very, very hard during the pre-season, in Qatar and here. Honda is working very well and I feel the support; we’re going in the same direction, and that’s the most important thing. It’s a special win, not only because it’s the first one of the year but also because with the team, we managed the situation very well, and after what happened in Australia on a similar occasion in 2013, it was important for us to do well.

Controlling the race almost from the opening laps, it was nonetheless the second half of the two-part race where he was able to shine, smashing the gap between him and Valentino Rossi in a strategic move.

“I knew that the first part of the race would be tough because it was still damp in some places, and with the first bike I hadn’t felt as good as with the other one even during practice. I knew that the second part of the race was the key. I pushed 100% in the first five laps after the bike change, I opened a gap and after that I just kept the distance.”