Marc Marquez’s debut in the Qatar Grand Prix sprint on the Gresini Ducati MotoGP was full of moments that were extremely exciting. Despite downplaying expectations during the pre-season and the belief that Marquez’s Ducati GP23 was not on par with the works-contracted riders’ GP24s, the six-time MotoGP champion put immense pressure on Pecco Bagnaia, a two-time champion and the pre-season favorite. This battle was for the final podium spot, adding to the excitement.
Unfortunately, Marquez’s dream of a podium finish did not last. While following closely behind Bagnaia, Marquez made an error in Turn 13, going over the outside kerb and allowing Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro to overtake him in the next corner. From that point on, Marquez’s race never fully recovered, resulting in a somewhat underwhelming fifth place finish. However, there was an undeniable sense of foreboding surrounding his performance.
Despite not achieving the desired result, Marquez expressed contentment with his performance. He acknowledged the need for realism and set his sights on finishing in the top six or top five positions, which he accomplished. Although he attempted to push for a higher position, there were four riders who were faster than him. Marquez recognized that he paid the price for pushing too hard, as tire degradation affected his performance towards the end of the race.
Marquez’s assessment of his performance was matter-of-fact. He acknowledged that his pace was slightly slower than riders like Jorge Martin and Bagnaia, especially due to overheating tires. However, he also noted that Qatar no longer posed the same challenges it had in previous years on the Honda. He was able to qualify directly for Q2 and secure a high position on the grid without relying on a frontrunner as a reference for his fastest lap.
Despite his realistic assessment, Marquez admitted that there was potential for a better outcome in the sprint race. If he had not encountered a “strange” tussle with Fabio Di Giannantonio during the opening lap and had not made the error behind Bagnaia, a podium finish was within reach. Marquez did not dwell on “what ifs,” but it was clear that he had the capability for a stronger performance.
The true test will come in Sunday’s full-distance race, as Marquez struggled with fading performance on the Honda last year. While he attributes this to the characteristics of the Honda, he also hints that it may be a personal challenge for him as well, given the state of his right arm after his injury. The Lusail circuit will put his right arm to the test. However, Marquez has never been particularly comfortable at Lusail, and despite this, he finished right behind Bagnaia after 11 laps, only two tenths of a second behind him and 1.9 seconds behind the winner, Martin.
Marquez’s strong start in the sprint race will undoubtedly make his rivals uneasy as they prepare for the full-distance race on Sunday.