The Japan Times - Marc Marquez says Silverstone focus is protecting MotoGP lead

Marquez nursed his bike to second in the main race in France as his main title rivals, brother Alex and factory Ducati team-mate Francesco Bagnaia failed to score points.

Marc Marquez leads his younger brother, who rides for Ducati satellite Gresini, by 22 points and Bagnaia, who also crashed in Saturday's sprint at Le Mans, by 51 points.

"Le Mans was super tricky," Marquez said on Thursday. "On Sunday we took the correct decision to manage the risk and to finish the race because it was super easy to make a mistake."

"I scored some very important points for the championship."

Marquez has been in dominant form, winning three main races and all six sprints this season as he chases his seventh world title but his first since 2019. He has a reputation for a win-at-all-costs style but said that at Silverstone where he has only won once, back in 2014, the focus will be on his championship lead.

"We will try first of all to score points. That is the most important thing. It is not one of the best circuits for me."

While the forecast is for a relatively cool weekend in England, Marquez said he was happy that the only rain forecast is for Saturday's sprint.

"When you are leading a championship you always prefer dry races because it means low risk," he said.

For Bagnaia, the goal at Silverstone will be to avoid falling hopelessly behind his teammate.

"The goal is to have more confidence in my front tyre so I can ride the way I want," said the Italian who won at Silverstone in 2022 on the way to the first of his two consecutive world titles.

"I've always been very strong at Silverstone in recent years. I love the track and its atmosphere, and I can't wait to be back in the pits."

Speculation swirled round Silverstone on Thursday over the future of one rider who has yet to win a point this season: reigning world champion Jorge Martin.

After swapping, not necessarily of his own free will, his Ducati for an Aprilia during the off-season, the Spaniard has not competed in a single full Grand Prix this year following a string of injuries.

He is reportedly thinking of leaving Aprilia at the end of the season, even though his contract runs until the end of 2026.

- 'I'm still happy' -

Aprilia issued a statement on Thursday insisting that Martin's contract "must be respected by both parties".

The Italian outfit said "it expects other teams to refrain from making any kind of offer to riders who are under contract."

Meanwhile Zarco said he was digesting his unexpected win in his home race.

"I'm still happy," he said on Thursday. "When I rewatch the race, I see that everything happened so perfectly.

"Watching it from home was strange because I was asking 'how did it happen' because always the race is so difficult and this one was not too difficult."

Zarco's parents were at Le Mans to watch him become the first home rider to win the French Grand Prix sice 1954, but he said he was happy they would not be at Silverstone.

"They stay home," he said.

"My parents are not from the motorcycle world so I took care of them a lot. I wanted everything perfect for them.

"It's pressure to take care of old people. So I'm feeling better alone here in Silverstone."

K.Inoue--JT