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Ducati rider Marc Marquez has taken a subtle swipe at chief MotoGP title rival Jorge Martin, claiming that only a lack of speed forces riders to rely on team orders.
During qualifying for the Indonesian Grand Prix, the world champion attempted to unsettle Martin by shadowing him closely right out of pit lane. The psychological move paid off as the Spaniard qualified fourth, edging ahead of his Aprilia rival. The race weekend at the Mandalika Circuit kept the title battle knife-edge close, with the two contenders leaving Indonesia separated by just two points in the championship standings.
Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, Marquez seized on a question about potential Ducati team strategies to pile the pressure on Martin. "If you have the speed, you don't need orders. You only look for them when you're lacking pace," he told the official MotoGP website.
Since returning to action following shoulder surgery in Hungary, Marquez has virtually always been the fastest Ducati rider and the brand's sole consistent race-winning threat. That has rendered any intra-team tactics ineffective for Ducati. Alex Marquez also pointed out to motorsport.com in Indonesia that it is far too early for such team directives.
Meanwhile, the dynamic is vastly different in the Aprilia camp, courtesy of strong performances across all four of their riders. In Indonesia, the Noale-based manufacturer claimed a historic top-four lockout. Championship leader Martin finished third, dropping nine valuable points, while teammate Marco Bezzecchi sits 46 points adrift but still fancies his title chances—especially if the Qatar Grand Prix goes ahead.
Italian rider Bezzecchi dismissed talk of team orders for now: "I don't pay much attention to it. Right now, it's not our concern. If we get instructions, we'll listen and evaluate, but no one has raised the topic yet." Aprilia management, however, has already acknowledged that they will need to consider such an approach at some stage in the season.
Marquez is fully aware that Ducati currently lacks another rider with the consistent pace required to take points off the Aprilia machines, effectively leaving him to wage the championship fight alone.
"I've always said we are a team and I try to do my utmost for Ducati. As for team orders—if you're fast, you don't need them. You only need them when you're behind. I'm completely focused on my own riding and will give one hundred percent against the entire Aprilia lineup," the Spaniard stated.
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