Reigning MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez appears to have all but given up on retaining his crown this season, saying that he is now taking the rest of the season race by race as the 74-point gap to Valentino Rossi is large.

Marquez has also put behind him the Assen last-chicane incident where he collided with The Doctor and says that he has a bike that gives him a better feeling, so just winning races is the aim.

“Holland was the last race and now we are in Germany. I will take it race by race. I have enough work to do to think about me and try to do my job. Of course, now we will see,” said Marquez, speaking at the track.

“My target is to win races because we know the championship is difficult. But if you win, you can gain some points and my target is that. The five points more or less at Assen doesn’t matter, will not change my life. Valentino teach us that he is really smart and we must learn these things.”