Marc Marquez has stated he would favor a distinct circuit to host the ultimate spherical of the 2024 MotoGP World Championship than the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Marquez completed third at Barcelona earlier this 12 months when it hosted the Catalan Grand Prix, having began from 14th on the grid.
The eight-times World Champion has solely gained twice on the Catalan venue within the premier class, in 2014 — when the Catalan race was part of the 10-race successful run that Marquez opened the season with — and in 2019, when Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales, Jorge Lorenzo, and Andrea Dovizioso all crashed out collectively at flip 10.
“No,” Marquez stated merely, in reply to being requested whether or not the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is an efficient monitor for him.
However there’s nonetheless room for optimism for the Gresini Ducati rider, who completed second in Saturday’s MotoGP Dash and was operating third in Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix held at Sepang; one other circuit the place Marquez has solely gained twice in MotoGP, with these, like Barcelona, coming in 2014 and 2019.
“Right here [Sepang] can also be not an excellent monitor for me, and we had been capable of be aggressive,” he stated.
“In fact, I would favor one other monitor, however in the long run it’s the monitor on the calendar, so we are going to attempt to do our 100 per cent.
“And, in fact, we may have difficult situations concerning the climate, as a result of in November you by no means know.”
Espargaro: “For positive it is going to be very particular”
For Aleix Espargaro, the ultimate spherical being in Barcelona means a final race of his Aprilia profession, and of his full-time MotoGP profession, at his residence circuit, the place he gained the Dash earlier this 12 months.
“I’m a bit of bit apprehensive as a result of the final time I used to be there it was a tremendous weekend,” Espargaro stated, “I couldn’t dream for a greater weekend.
“Anyway, I’m constructive, hopefully it’s going to be an excellent one, it’s not going to be that scorching which is the place the Aprilia suffers essentially the most. So, for positive I’ll have higher emotions.
“I want to do an excellent race and for positive it is going to be very particular as a result of on my final race with Aprilia I will be at residence with my household and my mates very shut, so that is the one small constructive factor.”
However, Espargaro’s Aprilia teammate Maverick Vinales was ready for ultimate affirmation of the Barcelona race earlier than he made any judgement on the selection of venue to exchange the flood-damaged Valencia.
“When it’s confirmed, we are going to go,” he stated. “So, not a lot to say, I simply wish to return residence and relaxation a bit of bit, to be sincere. Seven weeks, [it’s] very aggravating.”
Quartararo: Barcelona “a terrific selection” for the ultimate spherical
Compared to Marquez’s considerations about his personal efficiency at Barcelona, Fabio Quartararo might see a possibility for himself and Yamaha.
Joan Mir stated that, for him and Honda, Barcelona’s low-grip floor means their efficiency on the ultimate spherical will likely be unhealthy, however they’ll use the situations which don’t go well with the RC213V to their benefit within the post-race take a look at, ought to it occur.
Quartararo was of an identical opinion, Yamaha having struggled at Barcelona considerably for the reason that French rider gained there in 2022.
“I feel it’s a terrific selection,” Quartararo stated of the Barcelona monitor
“I feel additionally, to be sincere, fascinated with us and the take a look at, Barcelona we all know is a very powerful monitor for us, particularly within the final two years.
“The grip is super-low, we miss so much the grip there, and that is our greatest weak level. So, to check [there] will likely be fairly good for us.”
Quartararo’s manufacturing unit Yamaha teammate, Alex Rins, was additionally eager to see if the obvious progress Yamaha has appeared to make with its YZR-M1 within the second half of the season has been real, or whether or not the bike has been flattered by the circuits MotoGP has just lately visited.
“Let’s see in Montmelo, within the final race: it’s a monitor with actually low grip, it’s a monitor the place we battle so much, so let’s do our greatest and let’s see if our bike improved a bit of bit,” he stated.”
