Ninth to third, Marquez takes hard-fought final Sprint podium with Repsol Honda Team

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Valencia, 27th November 2023: An emotional Marc Marquez left nothing on track as he returned to the MotoGP Sprint podium for the third time in 2023, a gift to the Repsol Honda Team.

Having shown strong and consistent pace throughout the weekend, Marc Marquez headed into Q2 ready and eager to perform. A final weekend with the Repsol Honda Team spurred the #93 on to take extra risks in order to see out the 11-year relationship in the best way possible. Unfortunately, a mistake into Turn 2 on his final flying lap would end Marquez’s charge towards the front row and see him line up in ninth. With overtaking in Valencia notoriously difficult, the eight-time World Champion was left frustrated.

Launching perfectly as the lights went out, Marquez immediately made-up ground and lined up a big move into Turn 2. He’d keep the pace of leaders as he, Binder and Martin reeled in and passed early leader Maverick Viñales. With a Sprint podium in his sights, Marquez was giving no ground and set the fastest lap of the race on lap four – a 1’29.809. Marquez’s challenge would last until the final laps when catching Martin and Binder finally became impossible, crossing the line in a well-earned third place.

Arriving to the Sprint podium with thousands of fans and the members of his Repsol Honda Team below, Marquez – who has enjoyed 11 seasons with HRC – fought back the emotions to celebrate his third Sprint podium of 2023.

Joan Mir’s weekend was forced into an early finish, the #36 deemed unfit after his fall on Friday. His focus will now be on recovering and preparing for the post-season test on Tuesday.

Sunday is set to be an emotional day for the entire Repsol Honda Team as Marc Marquez prepares to line up on the Honda RC213V for the final time and celebrate a relationship which has brought six MotoGP World Championships and five Triple Crowns. Every lap of the 27-lap race will have all involved giving their maximum to end the season, and an incredible era of MotoGP, in the best way possible.

Marc Marquez (Third)

“You can give all the presents, all the helmets, all the boots you want – but the best present is what you give on the track. That’s what today was about, giving something to the Repsol Honda Team, to HRC, to my people who have been with me across this journey. I increased the risk I was taking a step and even in the race I almost crashed many times, but today I was able to do a good start, a good first lap and make a good race. It’s important to enjoy this special moment with everyone, it was honestly hard to fight the emotions on the podium. All of my team, HRC and the fans there – it was really nice to give everyone this moment. The objective is to continue like this tomorrow, but we need to see the conditions, how we start, many things.”

Valencia GP – Sprint Race

 

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 MARTIN JORGE 89 SPA 12 Pramac Racing Ducati 19’38.827
2 BINDER BRAD 33 RSA 9 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 0.19
3 MARQUEZ MARC 93 SPA 7 Repsol Honda Team Honda 2.122
4 VINALES MAVERICK 12 SPA 6 Aprilia Racing Aprilia 3.106
5 BAGNAIA FRANCESCO 1 ITA 5 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 4.253
6 DI GIANNANTONIO FABIO 49 ITA 4 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 4.4
7 BEZZECCHI MARCO 72 ITA 3 Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati 4.502
8 MARQUEZ ALEX 73 SPA 2 Team Gresini Racing MotoGP Ducati 5.578
9 ZARCO JOHANN 5 FRA 1 Pramac Racing Ducati 5.91
10 FERNANDEZ AUGUSTO 37 SPA 0 Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing KTM 6.095
11 FERNANDEZ RAUL 25 SPA 0 RNF MotoGP Team Aprilia 7.674
12 MILLER JACK 43 AUS 0 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 8.098
13 ESPARGARO ALEIX 41 SPA 0 Aprilia Racing Aprilia 9.513
14 ESPARGARO POL 44 SPA 0 Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing KTM 12.453
15 BASTIANINI ENEA 23 ITA 0 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati 12.599
16 NAKAGAMI TAKAAKI 30 JPN 0 LCR Honda Honda 13.787
17 MARINI LUCA 10 ITA 0 Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati 13.887
18 MORBIDELLI FRANCO 21 ITA 0 Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha 14.943
19 RINS ALEX 42 SPA 0 LCR Honda Honda 20.378
20 SAVADORI LORENZO 32 ITA 0 Aprilia Racing Test Team Aprilia 25.017
21 QUARTARARO FABIO 20 FRA DNF Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Yamaha DNF

 

Rider standings

 

Pos. Rider Num Nation Points Team Constructor
1 BAGNAIA FRANCESCO 1 ITA 442 Ducati Lenovo Team Ducati
2 MARTIN JORGE 89 SPA 428 Pramac Racing Ducati
3 BEZZECCHI MARCO 72 ITA 329 Mooney VR46 Racing Team Ducati
4 BINDER BRAD 33 RSA 277 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM
5 ZARCO JOHANN 5 FRA 205 Pramac Racing Ducati
6 ESPARGARO ALEIX 41 SPA 198 Aprilia Racing Aprilia
7 VINALES MAVERICK 12 SPA 198 Aprilia Racing Aprilia
8 MARINI LUCA 10 ITA 194

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