MISANO ADRIATICO, SEPT 10 – Marc Marquez said that rain helped him win the San Marino Grand Prix (GP) last Sunday, while Francesco Bagnaia closed the gap on the overall championship standings with leader Jorge Martin.
After three years without a GP win, Marquez won the race for the second time in as many weeks by finishing ahead of Bagnaia who grabbed the front row after starting from ninth position.
The Gresini rider was happy with the rain that drenched the ‘Marco Simoncelli’ circuit at Misano Adriatico to change his tires and allow him to jump to 53 points behind the misjudged Martin.
“When it started to rain a little that’s when I decided to take action or take more risks. In one lap I passed five riders and I was able to lead the race,” Marquez told reporters.
Marquez added that he ‘decided to follow the local boy’ Bagnaia and did not need to change his tyres.
“Bagnaia decided not to come out, so they know better than me,” said Marquez.
Martin admitted he made a big mistake when he raced with 20 laps to go to change his bike in the hope he would be better than him on a wet track.
But Martin was the only title contender to do so and the rain, which was forecast to fall heavily in the afternoon, eased almost immediately after he exited the pits.
The 26-year-old then rebounded to get back on his first bike, putting the Pramac rider outside the top 15. – AFP
