HODGSON SAYS MARQUEZ RECAPTURED HIS OLD FORM AT PHILLIP ISLAND

Marc Marquez delivered what former rider and pundit Neil Hodgson called a vintage performance at Phillip Island, taking control of the MotoGP title fight before heavy rain forced the Australian Grand Prix to be cancelled.

Marquez arrived in Australia just two points behind Jorge Martin. Aprilia had been expected to be competitive at the circuit, but the wet conditions played to the Ducati rider’s strengths. He took pole by almost 1.5 seconds from his brother Alex, then won Saturday’s Sprint after a close contest with Martin. The Aprilia rider crashed on lap eight while battling Marquez for the lead, leaving him with a fractured radius and putting Marquez 10 points ahead.

Sunday’s race was cancelled because visibility was too poor for the medical helicopter. That denied Marquez a chance to extend his advantage and gave Martin and Aprilia a reprieve. Martin’s injury also leaves his participation in the Malaysian round uncertain; if he cannot race there, his title hopes could be in serious trouble.

Speaking on Gas It Out, Hodgson said the weekend recalled Marquez at his best. “It was the most vintage Marc Marquez weekend we’ve had of the year,” he said, adding that the change in approach seemed to have begun when Marquez declared, “I’m all in.”

Hodgson was especially struck by the qualifying session, which followed limited wet-track running. He described Marquez as taking his rivals “in a headlock” and “smashing them in the face”, saying: “He embarrassed them.” Marquez had also crashed while riding over the limit, then hurried back through the tight paddock to switch to his spare bike.

Hodgson said the replacement machine could have felt unfamiliar, but Marquez immediately set the pace: “He’s straight out his first flying lap, P1, comes in, give me a new tyre, and then just embarrasses them.” While other events have seen a larger spread across the grid, Hodgson said, the scale of Marquez’s advantage made the performance stand out.

Marquez now heads to Malaysia with the championship lead, while Martin’s recovery and availability will be central to the title battle.