THE OFFSEASON IS OVER, THE MARQUEZ BROTHERS ARE READY FOR 2024
The second and final day of official testing at the Losail International Circuit is over, effectively wrapping up the preseason for the MotoGP class. The next outing will be for the 2024 Qatari Grand Prix, taking place at the same venue from the 7th to the 10th of March. Two days of intense practice for Alex and Marc Marquez with different goals, but all in all similar to those targeted in Malaysia two weeks ago.
The feeling with this track is clearly on the rise with regards to Alex Marquez who here, a few months ago, had struggled to find “the sweet spot”. The confidence with the front-end has improved, and with a more stable bike overall, the #73 managed to put together some consistent on-track work on the longer run. On a lesser note, he had a crash at turn 14 during day one, from which he escaped uninjured.
Despite some minor technical issues (he had to stop at turn 15 after only a lap), Marc Marquez continued his familiarisation with the Desmosedici GP23 also during the second day and the results were not slow in coming. He did well in the time attack (fourth quickest time) as well as on the longer run despite his first crash (at turn 4, without a scratch).
4th – MARC MARQUEZ #93
(Day1 best lap 1’52.959 – 58 laps)
(Day2 best lap 1’51.335 – 42 laps)
“I felt more comfortable with the bike straight away here, I managed to start using the body more and that’s already an improvement. Instincts are still set on another type of motorcycle, but we’re working on that department and changing my riding style. We did well in the time attack, even though it’s still most difficult area for me. We’re improved our pace on the longer run, we tried many things and push towards the limit – while also finding the first crash (turn four). Are we happy? Yes, even though we’re still far from Bagnaia, Bastianini and Martin.”
13th – ALEX MARQUEZ #73
(Day1 best lap 1’52.556 – 53 laps)
(Day2 best lap 1’51.944 – 62 laps)
“Compared to November, the feeling has improved a lot; we had suffered a lot last year here. It must be said that the Losail track changes dramatically between one run and the other and it’s hard to have a smooth progression, but we’re getting there step by step. We’re preparing mostly for the race, so the single-lap performance is not as important. We tried many things even though yesterday’s crash cost us a rear tyre, and that affected our testing programme. We completed a 20-lap long run and we encountered some issues that we’ll need to analyse in the coming two weeks.”
