P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Marquez “not far” in Qatar MotoGP practice but wary of “fake day”
Eight-time grand prix world champion Marc Marquez finished fourth fastest in the dry FP1 on the Gresini Ducati and topped the rain-hit FP2. Despite a strong pre-season on the 2023-spec Ducati, Marquez remains realistic about his expectations. He acknowledged feeling stronger on the Ducati but admits he’s not yet at the level needed to compete for race wins. Marquez considers the Qatar Friday sessions as somewhat deceptive and believes more riders have yet to show their true speed. He emphasized his ongoing adaptation to the Ducati and acknowledged his struggles on the Qatar circuit, expressing curiosity about his performance on the following day. Marquez reflected on the similarities between his feeling on the GP23 during testing and expressed his struggles in fast corners. He admitted reverting to his Honda style at times during Friday’s sessions but emphasized the importance of working on himself and understanding the nuances of his new bike.
