Ducati Lenovo rider Marc Marquez has adopted a cautious approach for the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen, prioritizing safety over aggression after finishing sixth in Saturday's Sprint race.
The multi-time world champion expressed discomfort with the high-speed layout of the TT Circuit Assen, a venue where he has historically struggled even when fully fit.
Marquez: 'I Cannot Do More'
“If I win here on Sunday, that means…” Marquez paused, acknowledging the challenge. “But it's a circuit that normally, when I was full fit, I struggled.
So this year, I expect that I will suffer a bit more.”
He emphasized a day-by-day approach, noting that recent rounds have taught him to avoid setting rigid targets.
“Brno shows to me that I need to ride day by day and try to understand no limits, but no targets,” he said.
Physical limitations, particularly loss of muscle strength, make the track's rapid directional changes even tougher.
“The flowing corners and the high corner speed… all my weak points are in this circuit,” Marquez explained.
Despite his struggles, Marquez finds himself only 40 points behind championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, a gap he calls “a gift that came completely out of nowhere.”
“I said it in Brno and I’ll say it again now: I don’t know how and I don’t know why, but suddenly I’m only forty points behind the leader,” he said.
Conservative Strategy for Assen
Marquez plans to maintain a conservative mindset until the second half of the season. “Let’s first see how this weekend goes.
After that, we can decide if it’s time to really go on the attack,” he said.
During Friday practice, he limited track time after securing a top-ten lap time.
“The target was top 10, and when I saw that the lap time was acceptable, I just hit the box,” he said.
He described the circuit as “too fast, and too fast to change directions - and too narrow,” adding that small mistakes can be costly.
“I'm not riding comfortably, but I'm riding okay.”
Marquez noted that the gravel traps feature large rocks, increasing the risk of injury in crashes. “Here, the gravel is painful.
So, you need to take care,” he said.
He admitted hoping for rain to reduce risks, but dry conditions are forecast.
“It's that kind of circuit that I hope for some rain, but it will not be the case this year, and yeah, try to survive,” he said.
After the Sprint, Marquez stated that seventh place on track—later promoted to sixth due to a penalty for teammate Pecco Bagnaia—was his maximum.
“I cannot do more,” he said.
He acknowledged that Aprilia holds a performance advantage at Assen.
“We already know the strong points of Aprilia, and we know that circuits like Holland… they are stronger than us,” he said.
Looking ahead to Sunday's main race, Marquez expects a similar result. “Same as today.
Try to finish in that 7th, 8th position and that's it,” he said.
He stressed that accepting his limitations prevents frustration. “I’m doing my 100%, but I cannot do more now.
In this circuit, we need to understand that. And no frustration because it's what I expect,” he said.
Meanwhile, teammate Francesco Bagnaia expressed confidence, citing his strong history at Assen and the bike's performance.
“I love this track, I’m happy with how the bike feels this year, and if we can take another step compared to Brno, I think we can fight for the win,” Bagnaia said.
