After his impressive debut on a Ducati MotoGP bike at the post-season test in Valencia last November, Marc Marquez took on a less prominent role during his second outing 10 weeks later. Hindered by technical issues on the first day of testing, he found himself outside of the top 10 for most of the test and finished six tenths behind Pecco Bagnaia, who topped the timesheets. This was the competitive scenario that Marquez had been preparing for, downplaying his chances between Valencia and now. However, despite this, it is unlikely that many believe he will struggle. His brother and Gresini Ducati teammate, Alex Marquez, described him as already being “too close,” while Jorge Martin stated that Marquez is where he expected him to be and could potentially be ready for victory in Qatar.
Of course, these statements should be taken with a grain of salt. It is unlikely that anyone would openly say that Marquez is not performing well. However, even if Marquez’s performance at the Sepang test was not perfect, it would be inaccurate to suggest that he struggled. Despite the challenges he faced on the first day, he managed to complete a total of 174 laps throughout the test, the fourth-highest number of laps among all riders. This significant mileage took a toll on Marquez, who has had a history of injuries in recent years. By the end of the test, he appeared exhausted but admitted that he pushed himself extra to maximize his learning.
Marquez acknowledged that he still has room for improvement and mentioned that he is currently riding too stiff on the bike compared to his Ducati peers. He emphasized the importance of understanding the exit of the corner, as it plays a crucial role in lap times with the Ducati. Despite not being the fastest Ducati rider in Sepang, Marquez’s longer-run pace was on par with his competitors. However, starting a few rows behind due to his qualifying performance would limit the usefulness of matching his rivals’ pace over longer stints.
Although Marquez was six tenths off the pace at Sepang, it is important to note that this track is not his strongest. Throughout his MotoGP career, his qualifying deficit at Sepang has averaged 0.522s. However, this has not hindered his championship success in the past. Being six tenths off at Sepang suggests that Marquez could potentially secure pole position by two-to-three tenths at other tracks like COTA and the Sachsenring, and contend for a front-row start at most circuits.
One cause for concern is Marquez’s admission that it took him longer than expected to get up to speed at Sepang. He emphasized the need to improve his lap times and understand how to arrive earlier in order to be faster. Marquez mentioned the example of Jorge Martin, who was one second ahead of the others on the first day of testing because he knows how to ride the bike. Marquez himself still has much to learn.
Marquez’s comparison to his brother Alex and Jorge Lorenzo’s adaptation to the Ducati is interesting. Alex Marquez had a slow start but showed improvement towards the end of the season, while Lorenzo took over a year to find his form with Ducati. However, Marquez believes that he can reach the top level without requiring extensive bike modifications like Lorenzo did.
Despite not favoring the Sepang and Lusail tracks, Marquez’s recent test with Ducati has shown that he remains a strong contender for the MotoGP title. While he may not win every race or dominate like in 2019, his quest for a seventh MotoGP title with Ducati is still very much within reach.
According to the Source the-race.com