Marc Márquez: 'Aprilia is not above; the riders are'

Marc Márquez expressed his thoughts regarding the Aprilia motorcycle brand during a press conference, stating, "The Aprilia is not above; the riders are above it. We need to continue working because the bike is capable of winning." This statement came after Márquez completed a first day of practice in Brno for the MotoGP Grand Prix of the Czech Republic on June 19, 2026. Despite facing two falls during the training sessions, he was pleased with his overall performance, as he managed to qualify for Q2.

Márquez reflected on the challenges of the day, explaining, "It has its difficulties, and I said already in Balaton, doing laps is complicated. This morning, I felt comfortable on my first outing, which was the best of the day, and from there, I tried to manage my efforts. However, throwing down laps and working on segments makes everything harder. Tomorrow, I hope to work on my rhythm, which we currently lack, and see if I can ride with more intensity, more connected to the bike. I had two falls today that perhaps in other moments I could have avoided, but the bike moves a bit, and that stretched me out. That’s where I need to improve."

Regarding his competitor, Álex Márquez, he shared his surprise and admiration for Álex's performance after recovering from a medical condition related to his vertebrae. "I am happy for him. He surprised me a lot because I saw him training, and I did not expect that he would finish Friday. He has medical clearance, but on a muscular level, he needs time, and today he surprised me with his ability to endure and the times he was running. Riding a MotoGP bike like he did requires a strong push."

Márquez also discussed the dynamics during practice sessions, including strategies involving the front holeshot device, emphasizing that all teams would use it, eliminating the need for further testing this weekend. He decided not to practice start procedures in the morning due to tire management considerations, opting instead to save resources for the afternoon sessions.

After addressing his body condition post-falls, Márquez acknowledged, "I feel good. The afternoon fall can happen, but I should have avoided the morning fall. I was coming from turn six into seven and had to push harder than I had before. The head has changed, but the body adjusted later. I fell after making a mistake during the change of direction, and I lost the bike mid-corner."

Márquez noted the team's efforts to ensure his well-being, emphasizing the importance of patience as he continues to adapt and improve, targeting a top-five finish for the weekend.