Ducati rider Marc Marquez has said that injuries over the past few years have taught him a lot, and that this season's title is just as special as the first one he won in 2013.
"I lost a few years of my career due to injuries, but they taught me a lot. Before, I acted instinctively, now I try to plan my moves more," said the Spaniard.
Mark won his seventh MotoGP world title on Sunday with a second-place finish in the Japanese Grand Prix.
With this result, he tied with the legendary Italian Valentino Rossi, who also has two titles in the 125 and 250 cc championships.
Between 2019 and 2024, Marquez had four hand surgeries, after breaking his upper arm in Jerez in 2020. He crashed more than 100 times on the track and missed 30 races.
He added that in 2023 he had to make a difficult decision - "to leave Honda or end his career", after which he moved to Gresini Racing.
"I just wanted the Ducati, I didn't want the salary. I would ride for free just to find out if I could still fight with the best," Marquez pointed out.
In September last year, in Aragon, he ended a streak of more than 1.000 days without a victory in a major race, only to move to the Ducati factory team this season.
Marc Marquez has dominated this season with 11 wins in 17 main races, including 14 sprint triumphs.
"This title is special for me, just like the one from 2013. But to get to this one, I suffered a lot more," the Spanish driver pointed out.
Marc Marquez faces a battle to equal another legendary Italian, Giacomo Agostini, who has a record eight Moto GP trophies.
"The most difficult period of my career, I hope, is now over, so if something happens, it will be a gift," he said.
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