After eleven starts in the 2012 Moto3 World Championship, Alex Marquez is now in his first ‘full-time’ season in the lower class, where he rides the KTM of the well-established Estrella Galicia 0.
0 team.
The 17 year old Spaniard, younger brother of the phenomenal Marc Marquez, said earlier in the season that he wanted to finish regularly in Top 10 but now, halfway through the season, he is 5th in the standings, though still chasing his long-awaited first podium finish.
In MotoGP, his brother Marc Marquez is constantly making the headlines with his Honda RC213V.
In his rookie year in the premier class, the 20 years old phenomenon is currently first in the standings with 3 wins – and as many poles – and 4 other podiums, asserting himself as strong conteder for the title.
In a recent interview, Alex Marquez spoke of the relationship with the illustrious sibling, who is also his training partner.
Here are a few excerpts:Marc, besides being your brother, is also what to you?”He’s the rider that I watch most on track.
Even if he was not my brother, it would be the same.
Our riding style is very similar, we use the body and elbows a lot.
Part of that is something that I learned from him.
Off the track he is a very big help for me.
We discuss training together when we meet.
The truth is that having a brother in MotoGP, who has 5 or 6 years in the World Championship and knows the circuits well, is a huge help.
” What is it like training with a double World Champion?”To me, it’s an extra motivation because when you win, it is more satisfying.
Sometimes I manage to, but it’s tough.
I try to get as close to him as I can and make things difficult, but in the end he always pulls something out of nowhere.
I always watch him when we train, and training with someone faster than you makes you stronger every day and more willing to improve.
He is very strong cycling, the age difference is noticeable, but I try to close in on him anyway.
In three years we’ll talk again about this…”Do you watch all his practice sessions and races live?”Some practices I do not see, because we have work to do during the day and I cannot watch the sessions.
Whenever I have a few spare minutes, I look to see how he is going.
I watch mine on video, but I don’t have time for his as well.
I watch all the qualifying sessions and races, always.
”Are they tough to watch?”When you’re also racing on a weekend, you also have to know how to cope, because if you suffer a lot you get tired and it seems like you are the one racing.
You have to be calm for when it is your turn.
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