Marc Marquez spoke with the media present at the Montmaló circuit to analyze his first sensations in the Ducati factory. Cervera’s is betting everything on red this season, “it’s what’s left”. It doesn’t go any further. There is no better bike than the one he will be riding this season. The first day was rather positive, finishing fourth, behind Bagnaia, his teammate, in a test day dominated by his brother Álex.
Everything in the red seems to work, they asked the Spaniard from the start: “Everything is red, that’s what’s left. I took a risky bet about a year ago and now ending up in the factory team was the best news and was a bit of a design idea. But aside from that, let’s get back to the importance of the feelings with the team, which have been good. I felt comfortable from the start. It’s true that the fact of not changing motorcycle factories, the fact of already knowing many engineers, allowed me to feel very comfortable inside the garage. This tranquility throughout the day and, nothing, a little return to work like in a factory, which is a very strict schedule, very established with things to test. And this is where the driver is 100% available to the factory, to give the best official comment.
About the first meetings with Davide TardozziMarc Márquez commented: “Tardozzi is very sporty. And in this case, we are now working more on the technical side. But yes, these are people you have known for 10 years, I have been in MotoGP for over 10 years, they were rivals and now work together. In the end it doesn’t change, but you already have a personal relationship with them that makes everything a lot easier for you with boxing people. Very comfortable indeed. Everything is very precise and tests this GP25 motorcycle 90% of the rides.
If still having Gigi Dall’Igna there gives a certain security, that of Cervera explained: “The truth is that During this year 2024, I felt very supported by Ducati. The big difference in what I think they do very well is that they have feedback from all the drivers. Whether you’re in the box or riding a Ducati, they always try to speak personally with all the riders and it’s clear that being in the official box, well, it makes us a lot more connected with Gigi and all the technical staff. , which are a lot of people. And then with the technician, that’s who we talk to directly.
They asked him how special this first time was compared to other first times in MotoGP, and Marc Márquez replied that “The heaviest is logically the first time with a MotoGP. This is the one that makes you the most nervous and you don’t know where to take it. The one with the most flan was last year. This year was a first, but very quiet. Right away, from the first outing I felt comfortable. When you don’t change the brand of motorcycle, it makes everything easier for you and you simply see an evolution. And that’s what I noticed.”
Regarding how much the bike changes compared to the GP23, if it gives good sensations and if it is very visible, the man from Lleida highlighted: “I changed from 2 years, 23 to 25 years , for most of the season. the moment because it was the new bike. And when there’s a new bike, the first time on the track always takes more time to get everything ready. And that’s what we tested various things on this bike. I sometimes went to 24, but it’s a little different, the rear device, the sensations are different. More competitive I thinkbut you have to see it.
Conversation with Bagnaia
Marc Márquez spoke about his relationship with his partner, Pecco Bagnaia: “The most important point of having a close relationship with teammate is nowit’s in pre-season, especially in this test, it’s the most important because what you test in Malaysia is more or less what you’re going to start the season with. Today, Pecco and I also discussed the comments we received. We each spoke with the engineers first. The engineers have a bit of information and then we comment among ourselves and the important thing is that the comments are very similar. »
I jump to the official box, it’s more serious: “Okay, logically It’s a lot more responsibility. the fact that in a satellite box you start a test and what you do is test the configuration so that you are always on time to come back. Here today we have already tested motorcycle concepts, a new engine, the chassis that you have to be very precise in the comments, be very focused because good or bad comment can affect. Well, maybe not, directly affects the evolution of the motorcycle. Then everything is much more precise. And I told you, it’s a test whose pilot is available to the engineers. “It’s not a test to work on flying.”
Regarding the sensations with the new team and with the new GP25, he explained: “The feelings with my new team were very good. I felt very comfortable. The fact of not changing factories and knowing the engineers, a lot of people, made me very comfortable. Cycling was simply an evolution. I also felt very comfortable from the start and this allowed me to work in a very relaxed way throughout the day, giving the necessary feedback to try to face the evolution as best as possible. And that was one more step next year.
As for what he feels and what feeling he has, he commented: “Well, obviously being in a factory team there is more pressurethere are more responsibilities and you are, quote, forced to fight for the top positions and even more when you join the team that has achieved better results in recent years. So we will try to do our best. Now it will also be good to rest this winter, to disconnect a little, but in terms of comfort, as I feel, the confidence is high and we will try to maintain it in the same way by the start of the season. ‘year.
Combing your brother
About the comb he dedicated to his brother, Marc Márquez commented: “It’s not that I knew… I was entering through the box and I saw out of the corner of my eye, I was already looking, because There was already a joke that on Tuesday we will be in front of you and in fact Alex was the fastest and the weekend went very quickly. I walked in through the dressing room and said they’d be there and actually they were there gesturing from behind, come on, you’re in the back and The comb came out of me, but with love.
On the fact that with Rigamonti He has had three technicians in three years, he said: “With Rigamonti, new technician. He’s a new coach where we’ll have to adapt, first me to him and then he will also get to know me. I think his working method is good. I felt comfortable the first day. Everything is very organized. A trusted, experienced factory technician is very connected with Ducati engineers. Yes, it’s not ideal to change technicians every year, but when the technician is good you adapt quickly, like I adapted quickly last year with Frankie and I will try to adapt as best I can. way also to the method of the official Ducati team.
