Jakarta – Marc Marquez is delighted to have a chance at his first podium of the season in MotoGP after securing a front-row start for the US Grand Prix.
The American MotoGP is set to take place tonight, April 15, Monday, at 02:00 WIB (West Indonesian Time), at the Circuit of The Americas in Texas. Marquez will begin the race from third on the grid.
Marquez outperformed two other Spanish compatriots, Maverick Viñales (Aprilia) who qualified first and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in third position.
“The target was the top two, and being able to start from the front row seemed like a very difficult thing, but we’ve achieved it,” Marquez commented.
This marks Marquez’s first front-row start this season. In the previous two races, the six-time world champion’s best result was sixth, which he achieved twice.
This happened in the opening round in Qatar where he finished fourth, behind reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, Brad Binder, and Jorge Martin.
In Portugal, the six-time world champion started from eighth. During that race, Marquez crashed after a collision with Bagnaia.
A front-row start undoubtedly provides Marquez with an opportunity to experience his first podium of the season with his new team, Gresini Ducati.
“There are one or two things I need to understand a bit more about in terms of race pace, see what works better. I believe the team will help me find the right path,” Marquez stated.
In the provisional championship standings, Marquez sits fifth with 36 points. He trails Jorge Martin of Pramac Ducati by 31 points, who leads the pack.