The three days of MotoGP testing in Sepang allowed Marc Márquez to continue his adaptation to the Ducati Desmosedici GP23. The Gresini Spaniard feels that he has gradually progressed, but still does not have an ideal riding style, particularly for fast qualifying laps.
The six-time premier class champion spoke about the evolution over the three days of testing, with special emphasis on improvements in fast laps: ‘Overall, the progress in the test was positive, so that is the most important thing. The first day was difficult, on the second day, I started working on many laps and then I was able to be closer in pace, but far away in attacking the stopwatch. And then yesterday in bed I spent about an hour attacking the stopwatch and this morning I got up at 7:00 a.m. and another hour attacking the stopwatch. And the stopwatch attack today was better because it is a completely different riding style compared to Honda for attacking the stopwatch. So we adjusted some things on the bike, I also adjusted some things in my riding style, the team also started to understand me better, and the stopwatch attack was better. I still stayed half a second behind the top riders, but they are quite fast in attacking the stopwatch. Then, in race pace, we are closer. But for example, in the Sprint race simulation, I was faster than in my stopwatch attack in some corners. This is also positive.’
According to Márquez, there is one particular point that differentiates Honda from Ducati in attacking the stopwatch: ‘With Honda, you go into the corner very fast and this is the main difference. With this bike, you need to take care of some things for attacking the stopwatch. I also started to understand better how to set up the bike and the technicians started to understand better how to set up the electronics for my riding style. Because for example, the engine brake, torque, delivery, of course, you can start with a base, but each rider has their own style. And that was also a good step.’
Questioned if he will have a more instinctive riding style for Ducati this season, #93 replied: ‘I hope so, but it takes time. For example, when Jorge [Lorenzo] went to Ducati, it seemed that in the beginning everyone said: “He won’t adapt, he is distant.” And then he started winning races in the middle of the season. You never know. My brother didn’t start so well last year and then he was fast at the end of the season. Let’s see if I can reach the top level. Of course, the level is there, but it’s not enough. To be faster, you need to be on the track and do what I did in these three days: ride, ride, ride. One of the problems I may have in a race weekend is that with the Honda, in two laps I was already in the lap times. Here, in these three days, it took a long time to reach good lap times. It’s possible in a test, but not in a GP weekend. So now I need to understand how to be faster in getting good lap times’.
