2017 MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez Crowned In Valencia

Fifteen months ago, I asked Marc Marquez if he could write the script for the next five years of his life, what would be the headline? "A difficult question," he replied. "The next five years? Okay, I will be 28. I hope to be here in MotoGP. One of the things, of course, is to achieve some more titles. I would be happy with a minimum of two more. And then, away from the racetrack, maybe have my own house. About the rest, just to be healthy. Nothing more."

On Sunday at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, Marquez ticked one of those boxes and, in the process, became the youngest-ever rider to win four premier-class world titles. In theory, the Repsol Honda rider could eclipse 15-time world champ Giacomo Agostini's eight top-class titles before his 30th birthday. Marquez is already seventh overall on the all-time win list with 35 victories, and only Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi have more pole positions.

This past season, Marquez won six of the 18 races, finished second four times and third twice. He was also fourth twice and sixth once. Remarkably, he failed to score points in only three races: Argentina (crash), France (crash), and England (engine failure). Following Sunday’s confetti-cannon, oversize-dice-rolling trackside and podium celebrations, Marquez—still wearing his champagne-soaked leathers—answered questions from the media.

“I think you have a good highlight for the race,” he said with a broad smile, beginning what turned out to be a remarkably candid conversation. Twenty minutes later, he concluded, “I am living a dream. I want to continue with this dream—this sweet moment. I am 24 years old. I am very proud of the world that I lived in since I was five years old. I have a very good team. Everything is really nice in all my life, so I just want to keep it going.”

On championship rival Andrea Dovizioso: "What an incredible opponent. What an incredible person. I am disappointed that he didn't finish the race. I have a really good relationship with him and the Ducati guys. I saw them go to my box to congratulate the mechanics—full respect. I learned many things from Andrea, especially mental things. The way to approach the races, the way to approach the weekend. He showed me that you need to understand well and forget the others. Not many people can do it. He is one of the best or maybe the best. We have respect for each other, but when you are on the track, you are fighting for what you want. I understand this is racing."

On his near-crash in Sunday's race: "I got to the end of the straight and I felt like a bike was very close to me. I braked too late. This was the first mistake. I went in too fast and suddenly I had a small chatter that we struggled with during the weekend. Then I lost the front. Since I just lost the front, I said, 'Okay, I will be with my bike until the end.' I don't know if we will be in the gravel or the wall, but I will be with her. When I lose the front but the rear is still there, I am able to save with my elbow. I stuck out the elbow and knee at 100 percent. I was able to lean against the bike and stay on the asphalt."

On the stress of competition: "After Montmeló [Catalunya], I was getting my hair cut by my usual hairdresser and she asked me, 'What's happening to you?' I was surprised and said, 'Nothing, I'm fine,' to which she answered, 'No, you're not okay because you're losing your hair.' I, of course, got scared because I didn't see myself going bald at the age of 24. My grandfather and my father have hair, so I went to see Dr. Angel Charte, who is the doctor almost all the riders trust, and he told me, 'Try to absorb all your different problems because you are creating such anxiety, stress, and nerves that you are losing your hair.' He gave me a cream, but apart from that, I tried to absorb the problems or focus on races differently because the pressure was overwhelming me."

On the Repsol Honda team: "Having a good team around you helps a lot. After Le Mans, we were in the car going to the airport and I told them, 'I'm not enjoying the bike. I'm still riding because I need to ride, but I'm not enjoying.' They say, 'First of all, we need to find a way to enjoy the bike. Then we will find the results.' We did a big change on the bike and I got the feeling and started to enjoy it again. Even then, we had many crashes. I say, 'Yeah, I crash, but tomorrow will be better.' But it's difficult also for a rider to understand and to forget the crash and go out again the next morning and be fast again. I was able to do it because after the crash the team would say, 'Ah, we're happy. We will repair the bike. We will not be bored during the afternoon.' When you have such great people, it makes everything easier."

On the competitiveness of MotoGP: "In 2013, I won the championship but a bad day was fourth position. A real championship, like we have today, is four or five riders fighting for the victory. I remember Maverick [Vinales] was very fast in the preseason. We thought he would be the champion. In the middle of the season, I was maybe 25 points behind. We are in the world championship with the best riders. Dovi demonstrated this year that you cannot forget anybody. Everybody can win."

On the difference between the 2016 and '17 titles: "Last year, we started the season so good. Our opponents made a few mistakes, then we got a big advantage, and we just tried to manage that advantage. This season, at the summer break, five riders were within 28 points. It was time to attack. The problem is that Dovi was so fast. If I was second, he was winning. If I was winning, he was second. I believe that Germany and Brno were the most important victories because one was before the summer break and the other one was after. At a few circuits that were not so good for my riding style, we were able to improve or solve these problems."

On his 27 crashes this season: "That means it wasn't easy. I was pushing every practice. I was always 'all in' since FP1. I crashed 27 times but I was maybe 50 times close to crashing. That gave me some feeling on the bike. Of course, it's something that we need to change for the future. There are a few points that we need to improve for next year. Yeah, we won, and we're happy because we're going fast. But, on Tuesday, we start a new season."

On the 2018 season: "Next year will be another year. At the moment, I am the world champion. The first of January will be a new year, and I am just another rider. We will try to fight for the championship. Like we said this year, you need to pay attention to the other riders. Johann Zarco will be very fast. Dovi and Ducati… We will also see how is the level of the Yamaha. But at the moment, we will enjoy and forget all the problems for two months."