Marc Marquez acknowledges that pushing his Ducati too hard at the end of the Qatar MotoGP could have resulted in a crash.
Marc Marquez admitted that he eased off in his pursuit of a podium finish at the Qatar MotoGP due to concerns about his front tyre.
During his debut on the Ducati in the grand prix, Marquez clinched a P4 finish in the sprint race (from P5), applying pressure on Pramac’s Jorge Martin, who held on to secure third place.
Marquez later disclosed that he decided to stop attempting to overtake Martin in the closing stages to avoid a potential crash.
“In the last two laps, I backed off because I sensed the possibility of crashing,” he stated, as quoted by Motorsport.
“The chance to gain two more points, three more points… I opted to settle for fourth and look ahead to the next race in Portimao in two weeks.”
Marquez discussed his race strategy, highlighting his focus on preserving his front tyre until the finish line.
“We extensively analyzed various aspects with the team to improve our start, which worked better today,” he stated.
“So, this made a significant difference in the race. I was able to effectively manage the tires.
“Yesterday, I had some struggles, and today most riders were focused on managing the rear tire. However, I had to concentrate more on managing the front tire because historically, with the previous bike [the Honda], I faced challenges with the front tire at this circuit.
“Nevertheless, I still need to refine my riding style in certain areas because I know there’s room for improvement. However, today’s race was consistent and solid.
“I made my move in the final eight laps, and during that aggressive phase, I started to put more pressure on the front tire, ultimately using it up.”
Marquez’s debut race with the GP23 was widely regarded as successful, securing fifth place in the sprint race and a solid fourth place in the grand prix.
The challenging news for Marquez is that Francesco Bagnaia, the reigning champion, has already taken the lead in the standings after claiming victory in the first Sunday race.
Furthermore, Martin, last year’s closest rival to Bagnaia, won the sprint race, indicating his determination to challenge for the top spot once again this season.
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