The Spaniard was simply nineteenth quickest when the ultimate pre-season check began at Portimao on Saturday as he once more labored on some “huge” adjustments to his RC213V for the HRC engineers.
However he ended up choosing the identical body and even the bike he most well-liked within the earlier Sepang check. Time is working out, Marquez feels he should now benefit from what he has and begin engaged on a set-up for the opening race weekend.
“I did not cease at lunchtime, I simply stored driving as a result of we nonetheless had heaps and much to strive,” Marquez mentioned. “I attempted to pay attention every thing at this time, as a result of tomorrow I want to work extra for the primary GP.
“Right now I attempted some huge issues, particularly aerodynamics and an enormous format idea, simply to grasp for the engineers. However tomorrow, with the very best (elements) we’ve got, we’ll focus extra on the small particulars to start out making ready for the race weekend.
One other space of doubt for Marquez is his clutch setup, having struggled with apply begins this winter.
“They modified the clutch this yr and it is fairly (powerful) within the first half. So sure, it even turns into harmful. So tomorrow we have already got one (new) set as much as strive the clutch to attempt to keep away from this (spinning).
“We’re nonetheless removed from the very best”
Marquez’s quickest time was 1.399 seconds behind reigning Ducati World Champion Francesco Bagnaia.
In contrast to Marquez, Bagnaia’s pre-season testing program is already ‘90% full’, having felt good progress from ‘each half we examined and every thing we modified by way of set-up’ .
The Italian now intends to make use of the ultimate day to check the weekend’s revised qualifying and race schedule, presumably together with simulations for the Dash and Grand Prix, forward of the occasion. opening on the identical monitor from March 24 to 26.
Marquez is in a really totally different state of affairs.
“Right now we completed with the very same bike as (we selected) in Malaysia. It is the very best bundle I may discover right here. So yeah, we’re nonetheless removed from the highest guys,” said- he declared.
“Actually, we will not be very optimistic in regards to the outcome. However you achieve nothing by being offended.
“So now, tomorrow, with the very best (bike) we’ve got, we want to discover the very best setup, the very best tempo, the very best lap time and attempt to search for the very best in each state of affairs.
The eight-time world champion underlined the size of the duty forward when he admitted to being half a second lap behind the quickest Ducatis. In different phrases, +12.5s over a full 25-lap race and +6.25s over a Dash.
“Towards Ducati we’re approach off, however there is a huge group (after them) the place we’re not far off,” Marquez informed MotoGP.com’s After the Flag present, confirming the hole is at present. “roughly than half a second per knee”.
Marquez was among the many runners to fall on Saturday, his first of the yr, however attributed it to a easy lack of focus.
“I do 80 laps in a day, it is true that it is tough to be (concentrated) all day. I used to be proper at flip 14, thought I used to be getting into the field and hit a bump and misplaced the entrance. It was a really sluggish crash, the bike simply broken a fender so it did not price us any time.
LCR’s Alex Rins was the quickest Honda on day one at Portimao, in eleventh, with Marquez’s new team-mate Joan Mir in 14th and Takaaki Nakagami twenty third.
