Rookie Marc Marquez denies he feels added pressure going into this weekend's Japan Grand Prix as he tries to secure the MotoGP championship he failed to clinch in Australia.
The 20-year-old Spaniard had the opportunity to take the main prize at the Australian Grand prix last week but allowed rival Jorge Lorenzo to narrow the gap at the top of the standings after an astonishing error resulted in disqualification.
"In the end, what is most important is to try to get the title. It doesn't matter when," he told a press conference ahead of the Japan Grand Prix at Motegi.
Marquez has won a rookie-record six races in the premier class after his title in Moto2 last year, and was on course to be crowned the first rookie champion since 1978 last week at Phillip Island.
However, Marquez was black-flagged for not pitting during a mandatory window to change tyres, as ordered pre-race due to safety fears, and coming in one lap too late.
The spectacular blunder let Lorenzo take victory on a Yamaha and reduce the gap with Marquez to 18 points with just two races left: Motegi and Valencia.
"Everyone can make mistakes," Marquez said. "What is most important is now the motivation of the team is higher than before.
"Now Jorge is getting closer. We have two more important races to go. We hope to be there, fighting for the victory and for the podium," he said.
Riders and organisers were keeping a close watch on the weather as a slow-moving typhoon was heading towards eastern Japan.
Reigning champion Lorenzo said the unpredictability of any wet conditions could benefit his team's renewed bid to stop Marquez's campaign.
"This will be a very important week. The weather may play in our favour," Lorenzo said.
Marquez shrugged off suggestions that the Twin Ring Motegi circuit's stop-and-go layout should benefit Honda riders more than their Yamaha rivals.
"Maybe we have more advantages in braking points. But you know speed corners and turning, Yamaha always keeps high (performance)," Marquez said.
"In rain conditions, you never know. Anyway, we will concentrate on the job," he said.
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