The double MotoGP podium finisher was the one Honda rider to get the tough RC213V to a rostrum in his rookie 12 months in 2020 when he was with the manufacturing facility squad, however struggled to copy this with LCR in 2021 and 2022.
With simply two prime eight finishes to his credit score in 2022 on the Honda, Marquez elected to maneuver to the Gresini Ducati squad for 2023 and felt “instantly at dwelling” on the bike in final November’s one-day Valencia take a look at.
Ending February’s Sepang take a look at ninth general forward of all Honda riders, Marquez says his time at Honda made him typically query that he “perhaps forgot tips on how to experience a motorbike”.
“In fact,” Marquez replied when requested if he doubted himself over the past two years at Honda.
“Sure, I had some query marks however I by no means doubted that I might be quick.
“However in some moments, you’re feeling like ‘okay, perhaps I forgot tips on how to experience a motorbike’.
“It was actually robust moments, however I feel these robust moments will assist me sooner or later to be stronger and be a greater rider.”
Alex Marquez endured some robust instances at LCR Honda
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
Honda’s Sepang take a look at revealed that the 2023 bike remains to be removed from aggressive, with Marquez saying it’s “not a shock” to see his former producer the place it at the moment is within the pecking order.
“Yeah, I imply, to see them the place they’re is just not a shock as a result of I do know roughly what’s going on,” he mentioned of ending forward of Honda on the take a look at.
“It’s not a degree that you could change [quickly]. They are going to want time.
“They go on with new individuals and all this, however the brand new individuals can not change issues like this. They want time, nevertheless it’s higher to be in entrance of them!”
Ducati fields eight bikes at the moment in MotoGP, and although Marquez isn’t on a manufacturing facility contract or using full works equipment in 2023 (he’ll race the title-winning 2022 bundle) he notes that the Italian marque nonetheless works carefully with him and Gresini.
“It’s good,” Marquez mentioned of Ducati’s working methodology.
“I imply, they’ve all of the riders in consideration, and that is good.
“They take heed to you and provide you with numerous suggestions. For me, I’m new and it’s the primary actual take a look at that I do with this bike, it’s actually necessary to have the guidelines and options that additionally they have for the technical aspect.
“They handed by all of the packing containers daily [at the test] and took notes. So, it’s one other mentality of working.”
A key criticism Marquez had about Honda final 12 months was that he didn’t really feel HRC valued his suggestions typically when it got here to bike growth.
