P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Marquez says Portugal MotoGP practice crash down to "instinct"
The Gresini rider secured a spot in Saturday’s Q2 after finishing third in practice at Algarve International Circuit on Friday. However, Marquez experienced his first crash of the race weekend on the Ducati during his final time attack lap. He attributed the crash to a “small change” on the bike that gave him more confidence but led to him losing control under braking, reverting to his instinct of riding the Honda. Marquez acknowledged the need to adjust his riding style with the Ducati, noting differences in bike handling compared to the Honda. Despite the crash, he expressed enjoyment riding the Ducati in Portugal and expects managing a race distance this weekend to be easier than in Qatar due to increased confidence and better understanding of the bike and requirements for speed. This enhanced confidence and understanding, including adjustments made to the bike, contribute to Marquez’s faster lap times and improved performance on the race weekend.
