Marc Marquez insisted he was “very joyful” after ending third throughout Friday apply in Qatar, at a Lusail circuit that has historically been one in all 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 high 5.
“Tremendous good day, for Qatar,” Marc Marquez instructed MotoGP.com. “I am very, very joyful, 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 battle.
“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 completely different using types at a circuit that’s in opposition to my using fashion, so I have to adapt a bit.”
Marquez – whose solely earlier Qatar win was again in 2014 – defined that the flowing Lusail format clashes together with his aggressive using fashion, 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 loads of lengthy corners, so then you definitely can’t assault so much on the nook entry,” he mentioned.
Whereas Marquez’s manufacturing facility Ducati win streak was damaged at COTA, he can be combating to make it an ideal 4 pole positions in a row on Saturday afternoon.
“Qualifying can be tremendous vital,” he mentioned. “As a result of if I begin in entrance – we have to perceive how the others enhance – however in the intervening time the race tempo is nice.
“However it’s true that from someday to the opposite, the monitor modifications so much right here, so we have to preserve going.”
After one daylight and one nighttime session on Friday, remaining apply and qualifying can be within the sunshine on Saturday earlier than a Dash race below the floodlights.
Alex takes a slender one-point title lead over Marc into the Dash, with Bagnaia an additional eleven factors behind.
