Marc Marquez insisted he was “very glad” after ending third throughout Friday observe in Qatar, at a Lusail circuit that has historically been certainly one of his weakest on the MotoGP calendar.
Marquez, whose pricey crash in Austin handed the world championship initiative to youthful brother Alex, ended the opening day simply 0.167s behind shock pacesetter Franco Morbidelli.
Marquez’s Ducati Lenovo team-mate and COTA winner Francesco Bagnaia cut up the pair, whereas Alex accomplished an all-Ducati prime 5.
“Tremendous good day, for Qatar,” Marc Marquez instructed MotoGP.com. “I am very, very glad, particularly as a result of I anticipated to be farther from Pecco and Alex. As a result of usually they’re very quick right here and it is one of many circuits that I wrestle.
“However I began in a great way. Even with the used tyres I really feel higher than with new tyres. I am using alone, I am simply attempting totally different using kinds at a circuit that’s towards my using model, so I have to adapt a bit.”
Marquez – whose solely earlier Qatar win was again in 2014 – defined that the flowing Lusail structure clashes along with his aggressive using model, which depends on late braking and nook entry.
“Usually I am a rider that assaults on the brakes and assault the nook entry and this circuit is a number of lengthy corners, so then you definately can’t assault lots on the nook entry,” he stated.
Whereas Marquez’s manufacturing facility Ducati win streak was damaged at COTA, he might be combating to make it an ideal 4 pole positions in a row on Saturday afternoon.
“Qualifying might be tremendous essential,” he stated. “As a result of if I begin in entrance – we have to perceive how the others enhance – however in the mean time the race tempo is sweet.
“However it’s true that from sooner or later to the opposite, the observe modifications lots right here, so we have to hold going.”
After one daylight and one nighttime session on Friday, closing observe and qualifying might be within the sunshine on Saturday earlier than a Dash race underneath the floodlights.
Alex takes a slender one-point title lead over Marc into the Dash, with Bagnaia an extra eleven factors behind.
