IN
THE
WIND
P42
MARQUEZ WINS SUPERPRESTIGIO 2016
M
arc Marquez
has five World
Championships to his
resume and a host of
wins, but there was
one thing he was
lacking—a Superpres-
tigio win over Brad
Baker. Marquez was
able to add that to
his resume Saturday
night, December 17,
with a dominant victory
at the fourth running of
the Superprestigio, an
all-star dirt track race
at the Palau Sant Jordi
in Barcelona, Spain.
"Of course I'm really
happy because this is
the Superprestigio," Marquez
said. "Last year I was really
close from the victory and this
year I got it. I know the mistakes
that I did last year, but this year I
try to be in a different way and it
worked well."
It was a victory Marquez
relished in and he shared that
excitement with his fans. He was
happy to win, but pointed out
that even though the pair is tied
on wins, Baker has still beaten
him twice. The difference is in
the fact that Baker was sidelined
in the second Superprestigio
with injury.
"This is maybe the most
special one because Brad beat
me every year that he competed
and this is the first time that I
beat him," Marquez said. "Yeah
we are 2-2, but for me we are
2-1, so still he is leading."
It may be an exhibition race,
but this year's Superprestigio
got serious. The bar was raised
and the competition was in-
tense. Marquez explained it as
another year of experience un-
der the belt, as well as what was
learned from the Americans.
Marquez said, "Last year I
was with a really low bike, but I
saw Toni (Elias), Brad (Baker),
and I tried Jared Mees' bike,
which I liked a little bit better.
This is one of the things, then
in the end, dirt track races, you
must have the pace, you must
be fast, but the start is crucial.
Last year Brad led the race. I
was there, pushing him, but it
was not possible to overtake.
This year I led from the second
corner and everything was
much easier. Everything is
related."
MotoAmerica Superbike
racer, Elias, also learned from
the Americans and benefitted
from it, earning a second-place
finish in the Superfinal. It also
helped that he was persistent.
Elias realized last minute before
the Superfinal that his tire was
toast and he needed a new
one, but the Michelin boys had
closed up shop.
"I feel happy and I feel sur-
Marc Marquez leads
Brad Baker at the
Superprestigio in
Barcelona.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
ANDREA
WILSON
