P1racenews AI automatic summary:
From a Marc Marquez admission to what Jorge Martin is expecting from his first race back from injury, here’s what we learned from the opening day of the Qatar MotoGP weekend
MotoGP riders, including those in other motorsport disciplines, usually keep their race strategies private until the last moment. The media day before the Qatar Grand Prix provided insights into the challenges and expectations for the upcoming race at Lusail. Yamaha’s pre-season optimism has waned, with the focus now on fundamental changes to the M1 bike and the introduction of a new V4 engine. Fabio Quartararo expressed frustration with the constant changes to the bike’s setup, feeling it hinders his performance rather than enhancing it. While Quartararo aims to focus on his riding, the pressure is on both him and Marquez to deliver strong results in Qatar. Marquez acknowledges the challenges posed by Qatar’s track layout and the competitiveness of his rivals but remains optimistic about his performance. This race presents an opportunity for riders like Bagnaia and Martin to showcase their skills and potentially challenge the dominance of Ducati on the track.
