Newly-crowned five-times MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez says he will approach this weekend's Australian Grand Prix “in the way to start the 2019 season”.
Marquez secured his fifth premier class crown and his seventh in total after winning last time out in Japan, with only the teams' and manufacturers' titles for Honda still to be won – the latter of which could be won this weekend should Honda outscore Ducati by three points.
In the previous two Phillip Island races Marquez has come to having won the title in Japan [in '14 and '16] he has crashed out of the race while leading, and admits he needs to “control” himself this weekend to avoid a repeat.
While feeling “relaxed” now the championship is wrapped up, Marquez says he will “try things” with his RC213V in view of beginning to focus on next season.
“The tactic is try to concentrate on myself,” Marquez said on Thursday at Phillip Island.
“Of course I won in 2014 in Motegi, I arrive here and I felt I could do everything and I crash during the race.
“In 2016 I start to feel different, but again I crash in the race, and it's something I need to control myself this weekend because it's a circuit that I love.
“But now you feel more relaxed, but I will approach in the way to start the 2019 season. Start to be concentrated, start to focus, and try the things for next year.”
Marquez ponders life at Honda
Following his title win, HRC President Yoshishige Nomura said he hoped Marquez – who has a further two-year deal with HRC – would remain a Honda rider for the entirety of his career.
Commenting on this, Marquez says his arrival in '13 at Honda has signalled “one of our best moments”, and sees no reason to end this partnership while he is “feeling good”.
“We can speak about it [staying at Honda forever], no problem, I don't care about this,” he added.
“But like always I feel really good with Honda, with HRC, and when everything goes well this is important.
“And since I arrive at Honda we are in one of our best moments, together with the factory and it is then we can show our potential in the track.
“I'm feeling good, so when everything is fine keep on the same way.”
When asked if Marquez should change team in the future, Yamaha's Valentino Rossi – who switched from Honda to the Iwata firm in '04 – says he “doesn't have to”, but it depends on how he feels within the team.
“About the future, for changing the bike, it's something very personal,” said Rossi.
“He doesn't have to change the bike… he has to feel. So if he feels good with the team, with Honda, he can make all the career with Honda Depends very much, it's a very personal choice.
“What you feel, what you find to find the motivation to race, but I think everybody has his own way.”
