MotoGP
Emilio Alzamora is the hidden force behind the Márquez brothers, Marc and Àlex. Find out more here.
To win a world title just once is something very special, but to be a 125cc, Moto2 and double MotoGP world champion at just 22 years of age is extraordinary. Yes, we are talking about Marc Márquez, but the subject of our attention here isn't actually Marc, or his brother Àlex who is the reigning Moto3 world champion.
This story is about the man who in 1999 was crowned 125cc world champion without winning a single GP. His name is Emilio Alzamora, and he is one of the most influential men in MotoGP; he has shaped the careers of Marc and Àlex, and continues to do so.
Being fast isn’t enough, the kid and his family have to be willing to listen.
A decade ago, Alzamora saw something very special in a youngster named Marc. “Being fast is not enough, the kid and his family have to be willing to listen”, says the Spanish manager, who believes in being humble and working hard.
Being fast is just the tip of the iceberg. It is vital that they act like a pro on the track, and even more so off the track, working with sponsors, media and the fans.
If you ask Marc or Àlex if they are worried about the future, the answer is quite simple: “No way, Emilio takes care of that”. The softly spoken Spaniard doesn’t like to be in the limelight but make no mistake, his influence is enormous.
Marc is just the way you see him, humble, cheerful, fast and very human, a perfect combination.
“I have known Marc since he was 12, our relationship goes beyond a professional one. In order to win you have to work 365 days a year. You have to forget about the time. To find riders with that kind of commitment is not easy.
“Marc has brought [in] a completely new way of doing things. He works very hard and at the same time he is very humble. He knows that the whole thing is a team effort and [he] takes care of his own. At this level what you do outside the racetrack is as important as what you do on the tarmac.
“Being fast is not enough; the rider has got to have the right attitude. Marc is just the way you see him, humble, cheerful, fast and very human, a perfect combination.”
Last season brothers Marc and Àlex both became world champions. Marc was MotoGP champion for the second time in a row (his fourth title overall) and Àlex for the first time, in Moto3. That was a very special day for Alzamora, years of work paid off in a big way.
“Marc still has the same values he had growing up. I was always very surprised by his attitude in the garage. You wouldn't have believed he was just 12. At that time, racing in the 125cc Spanish Championship, he weighed only 35kg. It was really tough but he learned a lot that way.”
Alzamora does not want to compare the brothers, he just says: “When you arrive in Moto2, it is time to show your real talent.”
“I was fortunate enough to be world champion and then continue in this world which I love. I feel really privileged. It is much more difficult to keep winning than it is to be successful.
“Our job is continue working to help youngsters to develop their talent”, adds the camera-shy manager.
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