2019 CYCLE NEWS RIDER OF THE YEAR—MOTOGP CHAMPION MARC MARQUEZ
P90
Interview
Title number eight (across all classes) was sealed with a last-corner victory over Quartararo in Thailand.
"IN A NORMAL
YEAR, YOU
CAN EXPECT
TO WIN FIVE
OR SIX RACES,
AND THE
IMPORTANT
THING IS NOT
TO LOSE TOO
MANY POINTS
WHERE YOU
DON'T WIN."
-MARC MARQUEZ
relatively woeful 63.2 percent.
But the more important statistic
was proof of a newfound consis-
tency. He never finished lower
than second, and this at a time
when the potential podium rivals
were more numerous both tech-
nically and personally.
He achieved a record points
score, 395 after 18 races, 420
after the first-ever 19th round in
the history of the world cham-
pionship, and a record points
margin over Andrea Dovizioso of
151, which the latter described as
"ridiculous."
Marc kind of agreed.
"It's not normal," he said. "In
a normal year, you can expect
to win five or six races, and the
important thing is not to lose too
many points where you don't
win."
During the year, he frequently
spoke of his more mature ap-
proach. "I think I am riding better
than ever," and "my goal is not
race wins, but the champion-
ship." But if he spoke of being
ready to accept second when
necessary, he seldom gave up
the lead without a fight, with
