Fast Start in Practice – Marc Márquez Feels Positive After Day 1 at Qatar GP: “Expected to Be Farther Behind Pecco and Álex” – MotoGP 2025
Marc Márquez kicked off the Qatar GP weekend with a solid performance, finishing third in the first practice session. Speaking after the session, he expressed satisfaction with the result—especially considering that he had expected to be significantly behind fellow Ducati riders Pecco Bagnaia and Álex Márquez.
Despite Qatar traditionally being a challenging circuit for him, Márquez noted that the feeling with the bike was strong from the beginning. Interestingly, he even felt more comfortable on used tires than on new ones.
Marc Márquez:
“I thought I’d be much further behind Pecco and Álex here in Qatar, so I’m happy with this result. This is usually a track where I struggle, but the feeling has been good right from the start. Honestly, the used tire gives me a better feeling than the new one.
Right now, I’m riding alone on track and trying out different riding styles. This circuit often demands a style that’s different from my usual one.”
“I want to keep the momentum going into tomorrow. Normally, I’m a rider who pushes hard on braking and entry, but Qatar has a lot of long corners, which doesn’t really suit that approach.
Tomorrow’s qualifying will be key. I don’t know what to expect yet from the Sprint and the main race. Our race pace isn’t bad, but the rivals will surely improve as well. This track is also known for big changes in conditions, so that’s something we’ll have to keep an eye on.”
(Photo courtesy of Michelin)