Marc Marquez’s second MotoGP race weekend as a Ducati rider, at the challenging and unforgiving Portuguese rollercoaster Portimao, was widely expected to provide insight into his performance for the 2024 season. After the Saturday sprint, it has already become clear that Marquez is a force to be reckoned with. While he may not be the outright favorite for the title, he is certainly in the conversation. His first podium finish as a Ducati rider in the sprint race was aided by the misfortunes of his competitors Pecco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin.
Marquez had concerns about his ability to quickly adapt to a new circuit and a bike that he is still learning. These doubts were based on his performance in testing at Sepang and Qatar, where he struggled initially but eventually found his pace after a few days of running. However, with no prior testing at Portimao, Marquez has proven that it doesn’t seem to matter. He was quick right from the start, setting the fastest time in the first practice session and performing well throughout the weekend.
While Marquez acknowledges that Bagnaia and Martin are still ahead of him, it’s clear that the 2024-spec Ducatis have an advantage over his 2023 model. However, even when comparing the 2023 Ducatis, Marquez is already showing his superiority. This mirrors his performance at Honda last year, where he consistently outperformed his teammates.
In the 12-lap sprint race on Saturday, Marquez showcased his skills with impressive overtaking maneuvers. He fearlessly passed eventual winner Maverick Vinales on the outside and made a daring move on Martin on the final lap. However, Marquez’s aggressiveness may have cost him, as he crashed during qualifying due to a mistake with the rear ride height device.
Despite these setbacks, Marquez’s performance at Portimao has dispelled any doubts about his ability to adapt to a new bike. He is no longer considered an anonymous rider struggling to find his footing. While he may still have room for improvement, Marquez has already shown that he is a formidable competitor in the 2024 season.