MotoGP | Marquez: “A podium would be worth a win in Qatar”

Lusail has never been one of his favorite tracks and it is no coincidence that he has managed to win there only once in the premier class. However, the Qatar Grand Prix brought back a Marc Marquez with the smile of the best days. Time seems to have almost returned to before the Jerez injury in 2020 and in the first weekend of the 2022 season we started seeing him regularly again in the top positions.

Thanks to a newfound physical condition, but also to a Honda that finally seems to have found the right path for the development of the RC213V. The fact is that the eight-time world champion will start tomorrow’s race from the front row, after having achieved an excellent third time behind the two Ducatis of Jorge Martin and Enea Bastianini, favored in part by the hook of the other Desmosedici GP of Pecco. Bagnaia.

“I’m happy to start from the front row, because I really looked for the lap. I had taken Pecco’s reference and this certainly helped me on this circuit, on which I have always struggled so much. I must say, however, that the pace in FP4 was good. even when I was riding alone and with used tires. The race, however, is the most important thing and it is tomorrow, “said Marc, as soon as he arrived at the parc fermé.

Once he got to the microphones of Sky Sport MotoGP HD, # 93 tried to cover his cards a bit ahead of the first race of the season, underlining that there are many unknowns and reiterating once again that this is not his track. favorite to put it mildly.

“Here in Qatar I always say the same thing: a podium would be worth a win. If I weren’t on the podium it’s not a problem. But let’s see how it will be tomorrow, because we will have to manage many things. It is also difficult to understand many. For example, Suzuki have It was scary all weekend, then they struggled in FP4 and in qualifying. For sure we will try to do 100%: we are in the first race, so we have to push. They give 25 points here, as they will give in Valencia to the last one. to have a good race, even if we are not the fastest on the track. “

Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

The other favorites are all a little behind: Bagnaia is ninth, but above all the reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo was unable to do better than the 11th time with his Yamaha. For Marc, however, it seems early to make these speeches.

“He starts backwards, but at the pace level Quartararo seems strong to me. It is clear that from so far back overtaking the Ducatis and Aprilia, which are very fast on the straight, is not easy. It is not our problem at the moment, however. For the moment we are in better shape than we would have expected in Qatar, but only tomorrow will we see what happens when we do 21 laps in a row. “

Finally, Marc admitted that he is slowly managing to ride the new RC213V with his driving style, even if in Qatar he must continue to adapt to doing something different to be more profitable in driving.

“Today I started to let the bike slip a bit when entering, which is something I like for my riding style. But here in Qatar you can’t ride like this, if I ride naturally I have already seen that it doesn’t work. You always have to look for the distance. In FP4 we made a modification to the bike and I felt more comfortable, even if I don’t think we are the fastest. The most important thing, however, was to start in the first two rows and we are there ” he concluded.

Polesitter Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, second place Enea Bastianini, Gresini Racing, third place Marc Marquez, Repsol Honda Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images