Alex Marquez<\/a> said during an Estrella-Galicia event when quizzed on his expectations for next year.<\/p>\n\u201cWe need to find that extra step at circuits where we\u2019ve struggled a bit more than usual. The goal is to suffer less and keep improving the small details, because there\u2019s always something to work on.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cPressure can hurt you or give you motivation\u201d<\/p>\n
But the younger Marquez admits that expectations will inevitably rise with factory machinery beneath him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand, and it\u2019s just natural, that after finishing runner-up, next year we\u2019ll be among the names mentioned as title contenders \u2014 especially knowing that we\u2019ll ride a factory bike,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s where pressure can either hurt you or give you motivation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll have very good material; nothing else needs to change. The work we\u2019ve done has proven effective, so we\u2019ll see if we can improve in certain areas, but the philosophy, the atmosphere, and the way we approach race weekends must remain the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The most important step”<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his strongest-ever MotoGP campaign, the Spaniard said the key has been consistency and keeping calm.<\/p>\n
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\u201cLook, there are still two races to go and I\u2019m already runner-up in the world championship. Can you always improve? Yes. Were there mistakes during the year? Of course – everyone makes them in such a long championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a rider, I\u2019ve been able to improve a lot this year, I\u2019ve matured, and everything is much clearer to me now.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut above all, the most important step my team and I have taken has been to stay calm when things got complicated – to be able to sit down, take a breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat calmness comes when you know you have the speed. It\u2019s been a very good, beautiful and historic season that I\u2019ve been able to enjoy to the fullest from start to finish.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Gresini also wrapping up the Independent Team title in Malaysia, Alex will be riding without pressure in the final two rounds, starting at Portimao this weekend.<\/p>\n
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