Marquez: Slick change was key to victory

Marc Marquez celebrated victory in a bizarre San Marino MotoGP after outwitting Yamaha rivals Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo at Misano.

After changing to their wet set-up machines to counter the track conditions when rain fell at the beginning of the race, reigning world champion Marquez correctly opted to pit first of the leading trio to switch back to his dry bike as conditions improved, while title battlers Rossi and Lorenzo remained on the drying track on wet tyres.

Lorenzo finally pitted two laps later but saw his championship hopes dented with a high-speed tumble at Turn 15, while Rossi waited for another lap before making the inevitable stop, gifting the race to Repsol Honda and Marquez.

It was the double premier class champion's maiden MotoGP victory at Misano and Marquez said his decision to pit before the Yamaha riders was the key to his success.

"I think nobody expected this rain and nobody spoke about rain conditions, but in the end when it started to get cloudy, we saw that maybe it was some possibility to have some showers during the race," Marquez said.

"We planned everything with the team before the race and we did a perfect job. During race, it was really difficult to understand the situation, especially when it went from dry to wet. When it went from wet to dry, it was difficult to see where the track was completely dry and we didn't know because it is a new asphalt and it was really dark.

"The team told me from the pit wall that it was the time [to pit] and this helped me a lot and it was the correct decision," he added.

"I think that Jorge today was faster than me and especially Valentino with dry conditions and it was more difficult to win the race, but we had a small chance. From wet to dry, the feeling with the bike was not so good and Valentino was faster than me and Lorenzo, but in the end I think the key of the race was to change again to a slick and we did in the best moment."

In a whirlwind race, the majority of riders made two stops as a result of the changeable conditions and Marquez said it was a surprise situation that no-one had anticipated.

"I think nobody expect that in a race you can change twice and win the race. You lose a lot of time when you go in the pits but it wet conditions it was impossible to continue and it is difficult to explain everything," he said.

"It's the first time that I win at Misano in MotoGP and during the weekend we worked a lot but we never gave and tried to be there.

"We won here and now we come to Aragon and I expect a good race. We know that Yamaha test two times there but we will try to be in the top again, but it will be difficult."