RiderTua.com – After a long time, Marc Marquez is smiling again. The Gresini Ducati team newcomer started the season well, finishing in 5th place losing 1.872 seconds behind winner Jorge Martin (Pramac) in the sprint race in Qatar.
“Am I satisfied? I have to be happy and above all, I have to be realistic. Yes, of course I would have preferred to finish further ahead. Did I want more? Yes. Did I do it? No. Today 4 riders were faster than me “I have to accept it,” said the 31 year old rider.
Marc Marquez : Aleix Espargaro Favorite to Win at Qatar MotoGP Race
But even by Marc Marquez’s high standards, there were a few laps in the sprint that he had nothing to complain about. “Towards the middle of the race, I felt very good and was able to keep up with the leading riders. But I put too much pressure on the tires and in the end I had to accept the consequences. The problem was not the wear, but the temperature both at the front and behind, while the race winner, Jorge “Martin only made the rear tire too hot because after the start he ran out in front. Except for Aleix Espargaro, all the riders at the front had to struggle with the Michelin being too hot,” explained Marc Marquez.
To what extent does Marc still retain his Honda instincts? After thinking for a moment, Baby Alien answered, “In the last sector of qualifying, I raced according to instinct and immediately lost 0.1 seconds. That’s Honda style again. But I was able to control myself during the sprint.”
But Marc made a mistake, right on the first lap. “That’s what happens if we don’t have confidence in our bike,” he said.
Marc Marquez mentioned the fight with Fabio di Giannantonio which changed the lead several times. “It took time because from the start I didn’t dare to attack like I should have. We could actually overtake on a straight track! In the past, usually I didn’t have this ‘luxury’. It made everything easier. Today I overtook 3 riders,” he said.
Marquez estimates his current racing deficit is 0.23 seconds per lap compared to his brand mates Jorge Martin and Pecco Bagnaia. The transition from Honda to Ducati was still felt after the first race. “I always emphasize that I want to be in the top 5 or 6. Then I know that I can be competitive,” he emphasized.
The fact that Marquez has never lost his foresight on tracks that have completely unsuited him in recent years, gives hope for the future. However, Marc has identified a clear favorite rider for Sunday’s main race and logically it won’t be him.
“For me, Aleix is the favorite. He had the best ‘card’ throughout the race because his tires worked the most consistently. The Ducati may be faster on a straight track, but the Aprilia has strong cornering speed,” concluded the former Repsol Honda rider.
