RiderTua.com – Alex Marquez, the youngest of the Marquez brothers, doesn’t see much difference between the GP24 and GP23, according to him, Ducati created a bike package with a hybrid concept or a sustainable combination of previous bike packages… It could be that all Ducati bikes now are similar, just riders who will make a difference.. each version has its own advantages but with a gap that is not too big..
Alex Marquez was able to achieve only two races in the top seven in the opening round of the 2024 season which was held at the Losail Circuit. The Gresini Racing rider was badly affected by his quiet performance during Saturday’s qualifying session, when he could only finish 9th at the end of Q2, starting from the third row which undoubtedly conditioned the form Alex Marquez could possibly aspire to. podium, if he starts with a better position.
Alex Marquez : Not much difference between GP24 and GP23
The rider from Cervera himself admitted at the end of the Qatar race that the weekend was complicated because of his performance in Q2, arguing that starting ninth was difficult at the start, especially when the riders entered the group.. I was able to attack well at the start, but then, when I’m in a group (a group of many riders close together), the pressure increases, especially on the front tyre, I start to use the rear too much and I finish. The front tire was like a ball, and when I reached a pressure of 2.2 or more, it became very difficult,” admitted Alex Marquez, who ultimately finished sixth in Sunday’s main race, almost five seconds off the podium.
When evaluating his first race of the year, the #73 remains positive. He believes that they are where they left off last year, and considering that Alex’s goal is to be in the top 7 and consolidate the base of the ‘new’ bike, and most importantly to add in Qatar. “That is my main goal. I am happy with that,” he emphasized.
In Portugal, Alex hopes to maintain the feeling he currently has with the Ducati GP23, a feeling that he said, he lost on the last day of testing here, it was a bit complicated for them. Like Pecco, when a rider has a front tire with low temperature and pressure, he has a much easier time. Starting from the front is very influential “We have to have a good qualifying session, Saturday is super important,” he added.
During Sunday’s race, the Marquez brothers had to fight against the Desmosedici GP24 ridden by Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini… the race video gives the impression that the 2024 bike feels faster on a straight track than the 2023 Ducati ridden by Alex and Marquez, something that Alex does not have. Marquez.. “I don’t think there is much difference in the bike on a straight track. He said it himself about Ducati, how they are not focused on looking for top speed like other years, they have looked for other aspects.”
“They made a bike with a hybrid concept… In 2022, for example, the engine is a little easier to understand, and they have combined it. It seems to have improved, whether because of the aerodynamics or the engine, the braking. But we are not too far away, the difference is not too big, it will be “There are circuits that are more profitable and other circuits that we are superior in, so we have to stay calm,” he said.
