Marquez: I had to lose 2015 MotoGP title to win this year

At the age of 23, Honda star Marquez has now achieved five motorbike grand prix titles in his career, but believes a calmer approach this year, with reduced risk-taking, was key to his success.

“When we started the season we struggled a lot,” Marquez told BT Sport. “Always we believed, we were pushing. This year we changed the strategy, I was calm.

“In some moments I was able to push more, and to be faster and faster. Last year I struggled a lot, the pressure was there, and by the end of the season… I’m a strong guy, but there is always some doubt around.

“Now this year we came back stronger, this is the most important [thing].”

With three races remaining, Marquez has won five times in 2016 – the same number of victories as last year, but without the six DNFs that ruined his title campaign.

“It was really difficult,” he said of 2015, “Because maybe to understand this I lost a championship. I was able to ride in one way but the people in the team already said ‘sometimes the consistency is more important’.

“And I didn’t understand, and to understand this I lost last year’s championship, but OK, the most important [lesson] in life is learned and I tried to use this experience.

“Of course, we tried to use that this year, but in the end at some moments you must take risks, and in these races I was able to finish races on the podium and with victories.”

When asked how he will approach the final three races with the pressure of winning the title lifted, he replied: “Now I think the old Marc Marquez will come!”