Marc Márquez was able to continue his adaptation to the Ducati Desmosedici GP23 this Tuesday on the first day of MotoGP testing in Sepang. And despite the various technical problems he faced, he has already drawn some conclusions about his new bike.
The Gresini Spaniard mentioned that he felt many differences compared to the Valencia test: ‘The bike is very different, but for a rider when a circuit is good for you, it will be good for any bike. Then, when it is a circuit where you have difficulties like here in Malaysia – where I had many difficulties in my career – it is not like Valencia. The feeling is very different and I cannot compare it with other Ducatis. In some corners I am the same, in some corners I am still a bit slow. And now I need to adjust and understand what they are doing‘.
According to Márquez, the way he has to ride the Ducati in Sepang is very different from the Honda, unlike what happened in Valencia – being in an adaptation process: ‘For example, in Valencia the way of riding the bike comparing both bikes was very similar, but here the riding style is changing a lot. The way of accelerating, the way of using the trajectories, the track, it’s very different. I was used to riding in one way and the way of riding the Ducati here to get the most out of it is completely different. In fact, in the morning I was riding like the Honda in the laps I could do, and it was shaking more and with more difficulties. But then in the afternoon I started to understand it better and tomorrow I still need to do more laps and try to work on the rhythm‘.
Asked about what makes the riding of his previous and current bike different, #93 explained: ‘Basically with the Honda you are using a lot of front balance, with the Ducati you use more the rear. And I was used to riding a lot with the front and a huge lift. With the Ducati, I still need to understand how to do it‘.
About the fact that he lost track time due to the problems that affected him, Márquez downplayed it: ‘The good thing is that we have a three-day test. After all, I did many laps, but they were not quality laps – that is the issue, you are always looking for quality laps and today I was not able to do it and I did not catch the rhythm. But it’s the first day, I have two more days to adapt to the bike and for the bike to adapt to me. So, it won’t change much‘.
